White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Just in from tonight’s Burien City Council meeting: They’ve set April 2nd, their next meeting, as the date to “consider” whether to proceed with an annexation election. Under a timeline set out by city administration, they would have to decide either then, or April 16th, that they wanted an August 7th election, in order for that to proceed through the system in enough time for that to happen.

Addressing one ongoing concern, City Manager Mike Martin told the council he has sought repeated assurances that the sales-tax credit will remain in the state budget – and so far, it’s still there. Burien says that money is vital to being able to afford the annexation. (At one point, Governor Gregoire had proposed cutting it, but that proposal stalled.) Councilmember Jack Block Jr. wondered what the latest date for a decision would be if they were seeking to put annexation on the November ballot instead of the August ballot.

During the public-comment section at the start of the meeting, 12 of the 15 speakers talked about annexation – seven against, five for. Among the pro-annexation speakers was Vera Johnson, proprietor of Village Green Perennial Nursery:

She said she decided at the last minute to show up and speak; she believes it would be overwhelmingly positive for Burien to annex White Center. We have the entire public-comment period on video, along with the discussion on the annexation item, and will add those clips as soon as they are uploaded following our crew’s return to HQ.

ADDED 11:12 PM: Here’s the video from the public-comment period. It is unedited, starting with the second speaker during that part of the meeting, the first one to address the annexation issue, and continuing through the last speaker, who also talked about annexation:

At about 34 minutes into the video, Barbara Dobkin speaks to the council for, she said, the first time as North Highline Unincorporated Area Council president, recounting the council’s support for annexation, and its accomplishments in recent years, including advocacy on behalf of concerned residents dealing with difficult issues.

Did you throw a name into the ring .. er, mug … for the beer-naming contest? Jeff Gilbert of Feedback Lounge in West Seattle says judges – from White Center as well as WS – are going over the suggestions now, and will make their decision in time for a big announcement Wednesday night at 6, to let the world know what will follow “Lowman Brau” and “Whale Tail Ale”:

THE “GIVE THIS FOAM A HOME” CONTEST IS OVER! A huge thanks to everyone in West Seattle and White Center who sent in their entries to name the new Big Al Brewing charity beer.

We will announce the winner on Wednesday, March 21 at 6PM. There are 12 judges sifting through hundreds of entries; their job is a tough one – there are a LOT of really creative and clever names suggested by the community. But in the end, only one name will stand victorious!

The judges are community business members from THE FEEDBACK LOUNGE, WEST 5, SHADOWLAND, MISSION, THE BRIDGE, LOCÖL, BEVERIDGE PLACE PUB, COMPANY BAR, and of course, BIG AL BREWING. And we’ve enlisted several folks from THE WEST, the new West Seattle/White Center arts collective.

While we tabulate, here’s some interesting stats about the contest entries…

• 90% of the names were contributed by women
• 50% of the people who entered actually read the rules
• 60 people entered a half dozen names or more, meaning they did not read the rules
• Most of the people who entered came from the High Point/Highland Park areas
• Most of the names had references to Alki, High Point and Roxbury, with a few Duwamishes thrown in)
• People sending in the same name were given the chance to enter again, giving everyone a shot of the big prize

You’re invited:

The next Community Safety Meeting will be held this Thursday, March 21st from 6 pm – 8 pm at the Joe Wiley Room in Greenbridge, located at 9800 8th Ave SW. We want to continue looking at ways to build our group and strengthen our community and we would love to get your input and/or suggestions.

A light meal and other refreshments will be provided.

We’re continuing to track who’s applying for a license to sell hard liquor, once privatization takes full effect June 1st. The latest to apply: The White Center Bartell Drugs store at 15th/Roxbury put in its application last week, according to the state Liquor Control Board website. The new owners of the White Center Albertsons store, Saar’s, which is about to rebrand it as Super Saver Foods, also are seeking a license to sell hard liquor. And the Walgreens store that’s just over the White Center/West Seattle line at 16th/Roxbury has applied too. As for the current state liquor store in WC, the license to sell liquor there – if a lease can be worked out, among other conditions – remains up for auction, along with the licenses of other state liquor stores, and the bidding is now up to $6,600 (it started at $1,000 minimum).

White Center and West Seattle establishments have been involved for the past almost-year in an ongoing fundraiser involving special beers brewed by WC’s own Big Al Brewing and sold, with a percentage of proceeds going to charity. The first two have had names that spoofed West Seattle landmarks – but the next one might have a White Center-centric name, depending on how the results of a contest come out. In case you hadn’t heard about it already, we wanted to let you know that today is the deadline to suggest a name. The full story, including how to make a suggestion and which WC establishments are participating, is on our partner site West Seattle Blog – see it here.

Thanks to Gill for the view of snow on the green this St. Patrick’s Day morning. Seems we might be in for another round tomorrow morning – the Sunday forecast begins in a similar vein, possible snow showers all the way up till late morning.

The agenda and “packet” for next Monday night’s Burien City Council meeting are now published online, and among the agenda items is:

Discussion Regarding If and When to Adopt Resolution No. 330, Requesting King County to Hold a Special Election on August 7, 2012 for the Purpose of Placing on the Ballot a Proposition Concerning Annexation of the North Highline Area “Y” Annexation Area

Burien city administration’s recommendation, according to the agenda documents, is that the council schedule its vote for either the April 2nd meeting or the April 16th meeting. In order to make all necessary deadlines for having an August 7th annexation election, the documents say, the County Council has to adopt an ordinance creating the annexation ballot measure by May 7th. (You can see the agenda documentation for yourself by going here.)

In December, Aileen Balahadia announced she would leave her position as White Center Community Development Association executive director this spring. Now, her successor has just been announced. Here’s the news release received by WCN:

The Board of Directors of the White Center Community Development Association (White Center CDA) proudly announces the hiring of its new executive director, Sili Savusa, a longtime community advocate and White Center resident.

The current CDA Executive Director, Aileen Balahadia, plans to leave her position the end of March, after serving in her leadership role since 2004. Sili Savusa will be leaving her position as Family Center Coordinator for Southwest Youth and Family Services to lead the CDA beginning March 19, 2012.

Aside from her long tenure at the agency, her other accomplishments include being elected to the Highline School Board Director in 2007 as the first woman of color, position #1, and founding the first Samoan/Pacific Islander Parent Teacher Student Association in the Nation in 2002, to address education issues impacting Pacific Islander students and their families.

“All of my work in human services and community development has allowed me to build an extensive network of important relationships,” said Ms. Savusa. “But perhaps the strongest experience I bring is as a resident of this gifted and capable community. My unique skill set, as well as my perspective as a resident whose family is impacted daily by community issues, uniquely qualifies me for this new and exciting role.”

Aileen Balahadia says good-bye to the community she has been honored to serve for the last eight years. Accomplishments under her tenure include the successful management of a multi-million dollar Making Connections comprehensive community change initiative of the Annie E Casey Foundation, the launch of an emerging White Center Promise Neighborhoods campaign, the opening of the 30-unit Unity Village affordable housing project last year, and the stewardship of core CDA programs like Family Connections and neighborhood business district revitalization.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the choice of leadership and how well Sili embodies the values and high quality of our organization,” said Ms. Balahadia. “I want to thank the CDA board of directors, staff, volunteers, members, partners, small businesses and residents for your service and leadership and I look forward to seeing all the community’s brightest dreams achieved in the future.”

Please join us for a good bye and appreciation party for Ms. Balahadia and to meet Ms. Savusa on Friday, March 23, 2012 from 4:30 to 7:00 pm at the Greenbridge Community, Educare Building (adjacent to White Center Heights Elementary) at 625 SW 100th St. Seattle, WA 98146.

(Photo from King County Elections Dept. website)

King County Sheriff Sue Rahr‘s new job had been reported before – but now that it’s been finalized, something new: She’ll retire as Sheriff at the end of this month. Here’s her announcement:

Today, I have accepted a final offer from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) to become the Director. I plan to retire as Sheriff on March 31 and assume my new duties as Director of the academy on April 1.

Read the rest of this entry »

On our way back from a story to the east, we stopped at 3.14 Bakery in downtown White Center to see how Pi(e) Day (3.14!) was going – and found a table full of distinguished gatherers who had chosen 3.14 for a meeting. From left, if you don’t recognize them all, that’s Mikel Davila from White Center Community Development Association, King County Sheriff’s Office Storefront Deputy BJ Myers, Michelle Allison from King County Councilmember Joe McDermott‘s team, and CM McDermott himself (who pointed out they had already purchased boxed pie to take back to the office downtown). As for us – decided not to go with the pie, but the triple-chocolate cake ball is to die for.

The fine folks behind the White Center Art Walk have published the lineup for this Saturday night’s event. Best place to see it is on their own website – just go here.

Covering Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn‘s Town Hall last night in Delridge for partner site West Seattle Blog, we spotted Aileen Sison participating in the community-information fair that preceded the event. She was there to represent the White Center Chamber of Commerce, answering questions and share information about WC; area residents were invited to browse the information fair in the hour before the mayor spoke at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.

From Audrey Zemke at White Center Food Bank:

Want to garden in White Center? Applications are now available for 16 raised beds at the White Center Heights Park Community Garden. Community members have been growing their own vegetables at this garden for 5 seasons. The garden is located at 102nd SW and SW 7th. The beds are all organic and there is no cost to use one. You must apply to be considered. Gardeners will be picked by a lottery process. To get an application, contact Audrey at the White Center Food Bank (audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org or (206) 762-2848, or stop by 10829 8th Ave SW). Applications must be returned by March 29 and those who will be able to garden will be notified within two weeks. The White Center Food Bank is working to get donations of organic compost, seeds and starts for use by the gardeners.

Another big delivery of diapers is news worth celebrating – but it also means WestSide Baby needs help! This Thursday, in White Center, it’s your chance to lend a hand … Here’s the announcement from WS Baby’s Maria Groen:

WestSide Baby has received a donation of nearly 100,000 diapers from Huggies through the National Diaper Bank Network. While it seems like a lot, it is just a little more than a two-month supply at the rate we distribute diapers to local children in need.

We’re inviting volunteers to a “Diaper Frenzy” this Thursday, 7-9 pm. Volunteers will be hauling and storing diapers in our operations facility. It will definitely be a mini workout, fun time with other caring community members and will help us tremendously. Interested volunteers must RSVP to whitney@westsidebaby.org as space is limited. We’re honored that the CoHo Team of Windermere Agents sponsors our After Hours Frenzies on the third Thursday of each month!

Got a bike that needs a boost to get going – or keep going? DubSea Bikes is back in session Sunday (March 11th), with another free bike-repair event at White Center Food Bank. 2-4 pm, 8th and 108th, and as organizers remind you, “This free event will focus on minor repairs only to get more bikes on the street in White Center and beyond. More complex jobs may be referred out to a full bike shop.” Next two editions are on April 15th and May 20th.

The summertime White Center Jubilee Days festival has a long and proud history – but now organizers are trying to get it beyond “good” – they’re aiming for “awesome.” And that’s the mission of a new fundraising campaign; you can donate right now online by going here. And there’s a fundraising gala on May 5th:

You can buy tickets right now – go here.

Today’s old skates, tomorrow’s art. Well – May’s art. Tonight, Amanda from the White Center Art Walk presided in the basement of Southgate Roller Rink as artists came by to pick up skates to turn into the “dynamic roller-skate sculptures” that WCAW is seeking. The artists’ marching – um, rolling – orders are:

– Max out your design at 4′ wide x 2′ tall
– Utilize up to (5) pairs or (10) skates
– Make it wall mountable
– Like the Native Americans with the Buffalo hunt, include as much of the roller skate as possible (ie; the boot, truck and wheels). A surplus of clay wheels are also available for use.
– Sculptures must be completed by May 9th

They’ll be spotlighted during the May 19th White Center Art Walk.

Five artists picked up their materials while we were there this evening.

From White Center Chamber of Commerce president Mark Ufkes:

The White Center Chamber of Commerce March 13, 2012 luncheon will be hosted by LUSO Food and Wine Imports Boutique, 9988 15th Ave SW, Suite C. Tina E. Hemmons is the owner, lusofoodandwines@msn.com, 206-694-3542 https://whitecenternow.com/2011/09/06/new-white-center-business-opens-luso-food-and-wine/. We will be acknowledging Art Spencer’s recent death, and his family contribution to White Center through their well-respected Spencer Automotive. We have invited Rich (his son) and Sharon (his wife) to the luncheon to talk about Art and family life in White Center and the important contribution the Spencer family has made to White Center.

Also, this Sunday, March 11, the Spencer family will be hosting a memorial for Art Spencer at Glen Acres Country Club (Sunday, March 11, from 1-4 pm) Everyone is invited to attend Art’s memorial.

At the Chamber luncheon, will also be installing our new board members, discuss our developing White Center web site, and discussing plans for several large culturally-encouraging murals painted in the core business district throughout White Center during our annual CDA/Chamber White Center Spring Clean on May 19th.

No local school changes, or major traffic problems, reported from the snow that fell overnight. As covered on partner site West Seattle Blog, snow fell for more than an hour in the middle of the night, leaving a half-inch or so on the ground in some places, but it didn’t linger long away from yards and cars. The National Weather Service has the area under a “Winter Weather Advisory” till 10 pm, but clear skies are headed this way from the west, and most of the remaining showers seem to be north of Seattle.

Not a surprise since Albertson’s had been seeking a hard-liquor license for the 16th SW store, before announcing it had been sold to Saar’s (here’s our coverage from last month), but for those keeping track, now Saar’s has filed an application for a license, and it includes the name we had mentioned in our story – Super Saver Foods.

So far in the general area, hard-liquor-sales licenses also are being sought by the Roxbury Safeway, the Burien Fred Meyer, and the Target at Westwood Village. There’s still time for other applications, since sales don’t start until June 1st.