White Center Now: The blog about White Center

11:47 AM: We’ve been tracking the suddenly gusty wind for about an hour – and according to the Seattle City Light map, more than 6,000 homes/businesses are now without power in a stretch from south/east White Center into parts of Shorewood and Burien. The National Weather Service has not issued an advisory, though winds in some areas have gusted past 40 mph.

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

The week before Christmas is usually low on public meetings, but the North Highline Fire District Board of Commissioners had some hot topics to discuss tonight, in a meeting that lasted just under an hour:

BURIEN ANNEXATION: The board voted to authorize a letter supporting the “Area Y” annexation that Burien is pursuing. The main impacts, if annexation is approved, the board was told, involves the areas that it covers now but are not included in the annexation, such as the “sliver by the river.” So as a result, they would ask for agreements ensuring that those areas would still have fire protection after the annexation, regardless of their governance status. The letter of support “has to be filed tomorrow,” they were told. Commissioner Liz Giba, elected to the board last month, said she’d like to see it more focused on support for the annexation than on concerns – and offered a cover letter she drafted, “which talks about why this is a good thing,” before it’s sent to the Boundary Review Board, which considers the annexation proposal on January 9th. The letter was the result of a decision to write a letter showing support, while also noting concerns. Discussion between Giba and Commissioner Ray Austin focused on whether it was OK as written by the board’s lawyer – six pages. “I just want it to be clear that this is a letter of support,” Giba said. In the vote, most of her “cover letter” was approved for incorporating into the documentation they would turn in. They also decided that Giba will speak briefly on the commission’s behalf at the January 9th hearing.

SEATTLE ANNEXATION: Commissioner Wayne Alishokis says he met with reps from the Seattle Mayor and Council to talk about the “sliver on the river” annexation. He says they told him the council is fully in favor of it while the mayor is neutral, so they are hoping to move it ahead next year, and to have that annexation completed by January 2013 via the “interlocal agreement” process that wouldn’t require going before the Boundary Review Board. The only complication – not expected to cause a problem, though – is the maintenance agreement involving the now-under-construction South Park Bridge. (He also made it clear he met with them as “an individual,” not as an official representative of the NHFD board.) “Sounds like tremendous progress,” remarked Commissioner Giba.

CONTRACT RATIFIED: The board voted to ratify a new contract with IAFF Local 1810.

CHIEF’S REPORT: 2 firefighters are off on injury, Chief Marrs commented. He also talked about participating in recent multiple-department training/testing exercises, one at the Burien Park & Ride simulating a multiple-casualty incident (shooting), as well as a recent haz-mat training exercise (simulating a tanker truck hitting a jersey barrier and splitting open). He briefed the board on an ongoing situation over sprinkler/fire-lane access concerns at Seola Gardens, which he says is trying to “get some variances or do something different,” with a County Appeals Board meeting being the latest development. The disagreement with the King County Housing Authority apparently includes their contention that someone was allegedly given a verbal agreement in the past saying the development didn’t need sprinklers, with which NHFD disagrees.

PUBLIC COMMENT: In this period at the start of the meeting, Pat Price asked if there were any updates from the committee to spend the inheritance. Chief Marrs says it’s “on (his) list of things to do” after the first of the year and they’ll figure out where things stand. Gill Loring expressed appreciation for the meeting being held at night – previously many meetings were on weekday mornings – and wished everyone “Happy Holidays.”

BOARD COMMENT: Giba thanked everyone in attendance and expressed hopes they will come to more meetings, with the scheduling change.

SPEAKING OF SCHEDULING: The board decided to meet on the third Monday of the month – most months – but has to choose an alternate date for next month’s meeting, since that will be a holiday (King Day).

King County Sheriff’s Deputies are seeking three male suspects in what spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West describes as “a shoplift that turned into a robbery” last night. She says the three went into the state Liquor Store in the 9800 block of 15th SW, and then: “The clerk saw one of the suspects grab two bottles of liquor and exit the store. The clerk gave chase and caught up to the suspects on 14 Ave SW. A fight ensued and one of the suspects struck the clerk in the head with one of the bottles, knocking him down. One of the suspects implied a firearm but it was never seen. … Only descriptions right now are 2 white males and a black male. The black male had a black puffy coat, and black football jersey with #82.”

A request we were asked to share with you, from Andrew McCarty:

I am wanting to find out if anyone locally has any information regarding what happened to the old skate boot sign that was on the top of the Southgate Roller Rink. (originally called the Southgate Rollerdrome back in the day)

Obviously the sign disappeared at some point, and the current owners do not know where. I’d love to get any information regarding its whereabouts or even some better pictures of the sign as I am trying to organize a group to either find the original and restore it, or craft a new one. It looks like from pictures that I’ve seen, that it had neon lighting, but because the photos are so grainy and in black and white, it would help to have better quality photos if we decide to craft ourselves a new one.

Any help would be great! Please e-mail dr.andros@comcast.net with any information.

Thank you very much!

Lois Baldwin lived a life of education – given and received – as well as creativity and adventure, as detailed in this remembrance shared by her niece, Vicki Burr-Chellin:

Lois Elaine Baldwin, former English teacher and guidance counselor at Evergreen High School from 1955-1976, died peacefully on December 11, 2011 in West Seattle.

Miss Baldwin was born on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1920 in Winlock, WA to Lee Ernest Baldwin and Yola Barrett Baldwin, both from pioneer families. (She claimed to love pumpkin pie because her mother had been eating pie on the day she was born.) The Baldwins moved to Oregon. where their father owned timber and operated a sawmill and their mother was a career public-school teacher, and they raised 4 children.

Miss Baldwin graduated high school in Cottage Grove, OR; she received her BA in Education from the University of Oregon, Eugene, OR (1944); and her MA in Education (English Literature) from the Colorado State College of Education at Greeley, CO (1955). She was a published poet and a student and teacher of Shakespeare. Her published poem in Poems of the Beaver State 1948, A Thanksgiving Prayer follows:

God
Grant that there be
Quietness
Within my soul,
I pray –
Calm, cool strength that
Lends a peace
To this – Thanksgiving Day.

And – then – dear Lord,
Let there be
Love
And with it
Faith to know
That by this quality we live
And by this Truth
We grow.

Read the rest of this entry »

The flyer says it all, in two languages: South Park invites you to a Christmas party on 14th tonight, 4-10 pm, sponsored by its business community!

(Aileen Balahadia, 2nd from left at Unity Village groundbreaking, WCN photo from Sept. 2010)
Just received from the White Center Community Development Association:

The Board of Directors of the White Center Community Development Association (CDA) today announced that the CDA Executive Director, Aileen Balahadia, plans to leave her position next spring. Ms. Balahadia has served as the organization’s Executive Director since January 2004.

“Under Aileen’s leadership the White Center CDA embraced a completely new model of comprehensive community development. Over the last eight years, she helped to grow the CDA from 1.5 FTE to a professional staff of 11.5 FTE and a $ 1.5m annual budget,” said Heather Downey, Board President and Burien resident. “White Center is a stronger, healthier community because of Aileen’s leadership.”

Accomplishments under Balahadia’s 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, and the stewardship of core CDA programs like Family Connections and neighborhood business district revitalization.

“I have great mixed emotions as I announce my resignation from an organization that has been my heart and soul for the last eight years. The White Center CDA is now in a great place to move to a different level- it’s much bigger than any one person now. We are rooted locally, but on the cusp of being known nationally for its innovation,” said Ms. Balahadia. She added, “I’m also excited to take some time off from executive leadership to recharge and refresh. And it always feels good to leave on a high note, especially when our organization and our budget are in a healthy place.”

Board member and White Center resident Pat Thompson applauds Ms. Balahadia’s creative approach to community building and the organization’s values of resident leadership and authentic partnership. “Aileen’s legacy is that today White Center has its own voice. The results speak daily for themselves through our neighborhood improvements, better academic achievement scores, a Community Summit attended by 400 people each year, and partnership projects with Southwest Youth and Family Services, Highline Public Schools, Impact Capital/Seattle Office of Economic Development, Port Jobs, White Center Chamber of Commerce, to name a few.”

In preparation for this change, the Board has commenced plans for the executive transition and hire of the CDA’s next leader. Ms. Balahadia’s last day will be on March 31, 2012.

The Board has adopted an aggressive timeline to find the next Executive Director for the CDA. Board Secretary and Burien resident Karen Veloria says, “We are moving quickly to assure a quality leadership transition. We plan to find a new leader to coincide with Aileen’s last month at the CDA.” The CDA has retained the services of Watanabe Consultation to assist in the recruitment search and hiring process for the CDA Board of Directors.

Just announced by Café Rozella proprietor Leticia:

Join us for an evening of holiday treats, local art and jewelry for sale. Shop local while you enjoy live music by Annie O’Neill and The Watchmen. Saturday, December 17th at Café Rozella, 6-9 pm, 9434 Delridge Way SW.

That’s just a few storefronts away from the White Center Christmas Tree – see you there.

Received this note that might be of interest to you, since White Center is mentioned prominently:

The Seattle Foundation recently announced new neighbor to neighbor funding for South Seattle, White Center and Kent communities. To qualify for the N2N Small Grants Program, an applicant must:

· be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, or be fiscally sponsored by one;

· have a small budget (generally under $100,000);

· have a presence in South Seattle(South Seattle is defined as areas south of Interstate 90, west of Lake Washington, and north of Seattle’s southern border) White Center or Kent, and engage diverse, low-income community members to address disparities in these neighborhoods. South Seattle is defined as areas south of Interstate 90, west of Lake Washington, and north of Seattle’s southern border. White Center is defined as the unincorporated area between the cities of Burien and Seattle.

More details here.

Why did Santa cross the road? To get to the 2nd annual White Center tree-lighting ceremony! Here’s the end of the multilingual countdown, as the lights go on around Veterans’ Triangle Park at 16th/Roxbury:

It was just last year that a longrunning effort to get power to the mini-park finally succeeded in time for the first tree-lighting ceremony (as reported here last December). This year’s tree arrived on Friday (here’s our coverae of its arrival). Tonight, it was all about holiday cheer, with an extra meaning to that word, as Evergreen High School cheerleaders distributed candy canes:

And of course, there was caroling:

As we headed out of sight, you could almost hear, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good Sunday night!”

Need some minor repairs to get your bike ready to hit the road again? Tomorrow (Sunday, Dec. 11th) afternoon is your next chance to get the help of volunteers for free. 2-4 pm at Full Tilt Ice Cream – full details on the Sustainable West Seattle website. (Then an hour later, it’s the WC Tree Lighting! Perfect doubleheader. Followed by dinner at a WC eatery.)

About an hour ago, White Center business-community leaders and other helpers put up the official White Center Christmas Tree, the second year for a tree to be displayed in the Delridge Triangle mini-park.

Lighting is set for 5 pm Sunday, everybody welcome – Santa and carolers will be on hand, we’re told. Here’s the video (wait for the cheering!) as the tree goes up.

Though White Center has a new “storefront deputy” now, Deputy B.J. Myers‘ popular predecessor Deputy Jeff Hancock returned to a hero’s welcome today. Literally! The occasion: The White Center Chamber of Commerce‘s Heroes Luncheon.

Deputy Hancock was one of the three heroes celebrated. Turns out he is actually working again in White Center – responding to emergency calls. Presenting the award, Frank Cantwell of Holy Family School recalled a ridealong with Deputy Hancock, who he said is known and respected by everyone in WC, as well as teamwork when HF put on its first street fair.

Another former member of the King County Sheriff’s Office White Center Storefront staff also was honored, Community Service Officer Vary Jackson. Chamber president Mark Ufkes called her the closest thing White Center had to a mayor during her 16 years of working there. He recalled her “endless advocacy,” which resulted in additions such as storefront planters. She wasn’t at the luncheon, but we took this photo of her with the planters in May of last year:

The third award went to county corrections workers who supervise defendants doing community service rather than spending time behind bars.

As King County Councilmember Joe McDermott explained, these crews come to White Center frequently for cleanup work and are supervised by Selina Daniels, who McDermott said spends five days a week working with a different crew each day. (With Daniels, McDermott, and Ufkes in our photo are Nate Caldwell, her supervisor, and Nick Masla, also from Corrections.)

Also at the luncheon, WestSide Baby executive director Nancy Woodland spoke about community efforts to address the problem of homeless/chronic alcoholic people.

The group that’s been convening to take this on, she said, has moved from trying to figure out how to get them sent somewhere else, to instead, considering engaging them as part of the community. The group meets again Tuesday, and Ufkes says it will be working on specific ideas for what to do next.

More business-district activities were updated by Aileen Sison, including this Saturday’s White Center Christmas Tree Lighting (5 pm Sunday at 16th/Roxbury, same place as last year). In the wake of all the attention given to the recent “Center of Attention” and DEA medical-marijuana raids, Ufkes said, this event should bring positive attention to WC and bring families out to visit, maybe even stick around for dinner.

Five years after his murder, White Center’s popular Deputy Steve Cox is being remembered – with a moment of silence before last Thursday’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting, a King County Sheriff’s Office event the next day at the park that carries his name, and now a White Center Police Activities League boxing event. “Leave No Doubt: In Honor of (Deputy) Steve Cox” is set for 6 pm this Saturday at Evergreen High School. Adults are $10, kids 10 and under $5. More info? Call Coach Tony @ 206-763-7525.

Just in case you are of the “I won’t believe it till I see it” school, regarding the GAME Collective medical-marijuana lounge making good on its plan to close its short-lived downtown White Center spot, these signs are proof … a for-sale sign we noted on the east side of the building, and a small “we’ve moved” note on the door.

It’s been three weeks now since DEA agents showed up at the lounge as part of a series of searches around the region at establishments they claimed were suspected of drug trafficking and money laundering. Last week, we reported what they seized.

While state law allows medical-marijuana use, any and all marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, which trumps state/local laws if and when the feds choose to enforce theirs. This location, by the way, was GAME’s lounge for a little over seven months; the Hang Around closed about a year before GAME moved in; its precedessor was The Wall.

That’s our video (by visual journalist Cliff DesPeaux) from last year’s White Center Christmas Tree Lighting. As reported here earlier this week, we’re now just one week away from this year’s ceremony, 5 pm Sunday, December 11th. And we have new details tonight of help that’s needed, plus a few other fun events ahead: Aileen Sison of WC B.O.S.S. says the organizations coordinating the tree lighting (also including the White Center Chamber of Commerce and White Center Merchants Alliance) are calling for artists to help with a tree topper and other decor; they’re also looking for musicians, singers, and choirs for the event. An organizational meeting is planned for Tuesday night, 6 pm, at Uncle Mike’s Superlicious BBQ; tree installation/trimming is expected to happen around 10 next Friday morning. Also next weekend, an Ugly Sweater Party/Contest is planned at Company, 7 pm. And a door-decorating contest is under way in the White Center business district – get those doors decorated by December 23rd!

Till 3 pm, the White Center Library Guild is presenting its annual holiday bazaar – just days after the library won another reprieve from closure, with supporters including Guild members taking their case to the King County Library Board in Issaquah. The library’s at 11220 16th SW.

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council’s meeting began with a moment of silence in memory of King County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Cox, murdered five years ago. Here’s what else happened:

ANNEXATION AND OTHER BURIEN UPDATES: City Manager Mike Martin took to the podium, as he does during most NHUAC meetings. “Nothing going on, as usual,” he joked. Annexation update: He noted that the governor’s budget now “gradually phases out” the sales-tax credit but would eliminate it for future annexations. “I’ve had conversations with the executive’s office as recently as last night,” he said, and mentioned that he went to Olympia “where I was mistaken for a member of the 99 percent,” he joked. He said he had talked to “a couple members of the House Ways and Means Committee” while there, explaining that it’s vital to keep the sales-tax credit. But even if they do, “that’s not enough,” he said, because of “the cloud of fear of having this taken away every year” — he said that’s the point he’s stressing to legislators. He says even though there is often the warning that “you can’t bind future legislators,” there are “ways of skinning that cat.” Bottom line, he says, “We’re working this very actively … Don’t despair; this is a long fight … we’ll hang in there and do what we can.” He doesn’t expect to know the outcome until next year, since “it’s all wrapped up in the whole budget proposal.” Burien isn’t the only city “in the same boat,” he acknowledged, when asked by NHUAC member Rebecca Lopes.

Also regarding annexation, Martin mentioned the Boundary Review Board hearing coming up January 9th. (You can see the board’s file on the Burien annexation proposal here.) Then that board will make its decision some weeks later. Asked by NHUAC member Ron Johnson if the board meeting is public, he affirmed that it is. (As it was back when the Boundary Review Board met to consider the previous Burien/North Highline annexation.) This time around, one big difference – the public hearing will be in this community, rather than elsewhere like last time.

Martin also mentioned that “despite all this budget drama all around us,” the City Council passed its budget in just two sessions. (You can find the budget documents on the Burien website, here.) And he says it’s the first time in his career that property-tax revenues are dropping because assessed valuations have dropped (which also means property-tax bills have dropped for residents). Cuts from the governor’s budget could mean as much as $400,000 in revenue lost for Burien, he said, but nonetheless, they have adopted a budget with no layoffs, among other things. He also congratulated NHUAC for its presence at the King County Library Board meeting (WCN coverage here) and getting the board to delay its vote. However, he said he wasn’t quite sure what the board was thinking in tying its action to whatever the Boundary Review Board is doing – since he’s sure that the board will approve the annexation. He says he still is hoping to sit down with the Library System “to fashion a solution that is acceptable to you and this community … we want to talk about it (with them).” He says it’s also important to not dig in, to have an intelligent discussion about solutions; without using the word “compromise,” he was clearly suggesting that may be needed. He mentioned the Lake Burien situation as an example. “It’s always helpful to take a wider view of these things.”

Burien Councilmember Rose Clark noted that in conversation after the Library Board action earlier this week, they also seemed to be waiting to see what would happen with the sales-tax credit as well as with the Boundary Review Board.

Rachael Levine of the White Center Library Guild said at that point that she agrees with Martin regarding finding an acceptable solution, but that she also appreciates all the support they’ve received (including the Burien Council letter read by Councilmember Clark during the meeting). She said she wished she could have gotten everyone to do a “mike check” as is done at Occupy demonstrations and chant “Save Our Library,” adding “I think the library problem has brought a lot of us together … strengthened us as a community, and helped us focus on what’s important.” People from other library districts, she said, advised her, “You’ll have to hang in there, as (the board’s) strategy is to wait you out.” She expressed optimism that a solution will be found. Martin then said, “The way this community has rallied around the libraries” was reminiscent of stories he had heard about Burien back in the third-runway-fight days: “We can organize, we can get together, we do have a voice, we are not helpless.” Giba said she was proud that the city of Burien had turned out to support them, as did County Councilmember Joe McDermott and a representative from County Executive Dow Constantine‘s office. “It felt good to have representation.”

KING COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE: New storefront deputy B.J. Myers took the podium; he’s collected crime stats in a new format. Since other reps from the Center of Attention operation weren’t present, he summarized that “I haven’t heard much over the past month – a lot of what they’re doing has moved to the prosecution side.” He says Papa’s Pub is still appealing its liquor-license suspension, which apparently is now not scheduled to happen before next year. Also, he said, “we had several incidents at the GAME (medical-marijuana lounge)” this month, referring the DEA raids that happened in November. He says it appears that GAME has moved out of its White Center location, saying he has not seen the “open” sign nor has he seen “much left inside.” On the 17th, he says, deputies on foot patrol caught the Sorensen Marine business being broken into, “nice bit of work done by people just walking around our business district.” And he mentioned semitrucks parked on 4th SW long-term just south of Roxbury, some with refrigerated trailers “making noise all night long,” and says the deputies have been “out aggressively ticketing those” and hopes that will help take care of that problem. Back on the marijuana issue, councilmembers asked about the marijuana “farmers’ market” storefront on 16th SW supposedly having a “big (holiday) event” – he wasn’t aware. … Later in the meeting, Major Jim Graddon from KCSO talked about the commemoration tomorrow of Deputy Cox’s death. The major acknowledged that things are quiet.

DES MOINES MEMORIAL DRIVE: Burien Councilmember Rose Clark took to the podium to talk with the council about the road from 156th (Sunnydale Elementary) to 188th – regarding the Lake-to-Sound Trail that was planned for one side of it, and keeping improvements consonant with its historical status (which means even tree plantings, for example, need to be American Elms). “We are working very positively on the trail,” which is levy-funded, Lights are planned, and funding is still in the process of being obtained, like commemorative bollards, perhaps poppy plantings reminiscent of World War I, so they are forming a 501(c)(3) to help with that process. When they’re ready to raise money for the historical elements, Clark said, she is hopeful that people will join in and support the effort. Other areas of the drive, she added, are targeted for historical kiosks. Work on this section, she said, is expected to start in 2013.

KING COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: Karen Wolf from King County said they’re currently in the once-every-four-years process of considering “major amendments” to this plan. She said they have come up with a “public review draft” of the plan – it’s a “pretty thick document” but it’s available in libraries and it’s online, “which is how most people apparently look at it these days.” She says North Highline is not proposed for any zoning changes or other kinds of changes in the plan overhaul that’s on the table right now (she did mention the new “tiered” system under which King County roads are being managed). “What if somebody wanted to come along with a major development?” asked NHUAC president Barbara Dobkin. Wolf explained that if a development required a zoning change that would change the comprehensive plan, it would have to wait till this type of process every four years, but they haven’t had any requests for anything along those lines so far. She also explained that unlike some jurisdictions (Seattle, for example), the county doesn’t have “single-family” and “multi-family” zoning; instead, its plan focuses on density. With that sort of classification, she explained, a piece of land that might allow three units could either have them evenly spaced, or all clustered together on one side (or something inbetween). Dobkin explained that she was inquiring about a 30-unit development that was categorized as three separate projects but was really one, in her view. Gill Loring asked how land zoned for “office” could be changed into residential, and Wolf said the code did have a way to accommodate that – if it were developed mixed-use, with office and residential in a single development. Wolf says the rules don’t count offices so much as square footage, in saying what percentage of the buliding could be used for office or residential.

LIBRARY CONSOLIDATION: Early in the meeting, community member Gill Loring described the King County Library Board meeting earlier this week as “fascinating.” He also noted that some NHUAC members had left early last time. Later in the meeting, Karen Freeman from the County Executive’s staff said that they are hoping to talk more with the Library Board in the coming weeks. Giba asked about the process for being appointed to the Library Board; Freeman said that nominations/potential candidates’ names often come from staff, but in this case, there is an online application form for anybody interested. And she mentioned the discussion sparked by the last meeting about possibly making it an elected board instead of an appointed board. (There’s more information about the library board here.) The question of a board vacancy has some urgency now because Judge Richard Eadie, who is the current board president, is expected to leave at the end of his term. Freeman said she didn’t know that anyone had expressed interest in joining the board. (According to the county website, board members serve five-year terms.) There was a general murmuring around the room that board terms “are too long.” Clark noted that Burien’s advisory boards have four-year terms. Freeman said she would get more information about the timeline for making an appointment. … Later in the meeting, Dobkin said another library petition will be started during this Saturday’s White Center Summit (see below).

TRANSITIONING: NHUAC is transitioning out of being a county-funded group, so had some financial logistics to discuss tonight. They have liability insurance for next year, it was reported. …Later in the meeting, there was discussion of how to handle council elections in the future, whether district positions or at-large positions would be best. Johnson also suggested, “I think we should make more of an outreach to the Boulevard Park area,” because it didn’t seem to be as well-represented as it used to be; even though some of it has been annexed to Burien, it still comprises 25 percent of the unincorporated area, it was noted.

DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS: The new coalition of business and nonprofits was brought up briefly; so was the matter of younger homeless people being seen in the downtown WC area. Major Graddon says he has seen that in other areas of the country as well but is not sure why.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Regarding Parks, Christine Waldman said the tennis courts at Steve Cox Memorial Park are open now. Also mentioned, the Seola Gardens area has a prospective development offer from Quadrant Homes, to build 60 for-sale homes in stages, said Pat Price – maybe 10 or 12 a year. There was also some discussion of the status of the existing for-sale homes in the area. Dobkin said some property behind those sites had been acquired to keep it from falling into blight that might affect the sales of those homes. Greenbridge, though, is waiting for a developer, according to Price. There was also some discussion of the apparent tax-exempt status of the existing Seola Gardens homes; Dobkin said she checked the King County Parcel Viewer and that shows the homes are tax-exempt even though they have been sold – she says they were told the homes “would be taxed at normal rates” once they had buyers. … When the Transportation Committee’s update came up, Elizabeth Gordon from Uncle Mike’s Superlicious BBQ talked about trouble on the downtown 16th stretch, involving the light sequencing backing up traffic, so people are avoiding 16th and using 15th instead. “And as a business on 16th, that’s bad,” said Gordon. Dobkin also wondered about the relatively new raised divider in the middle of the street; Johnson said they might bring someone out from the county to talk about that at a future meeting.He also mentioned that cables are being laid for sequencing changes in the lights, involving some cameras that will help with that, which could lead to an “improvement in traffic flow … within the next month or two.” Also on the transportation front, the NHUAC letter to Metro asking for a review of the zone boundary has drawn a response – saying that the change could result in higher fares for many people. (Here’s the response letter, as posted to the NHUAC website.) Dobkin mentioned a traffic problem that could affect some area drivers – the closure, as of this week, of the Airport Way bridge in Georgetown. “It’s pretty horrible what they’ve done on this side of town,” regarding so much construction at the same time, she noted. … Dobkin says they’re still working on the planting beds (might not be able to get plants into them till after winter), including trying to find a way to keep people from driving over them, which she said has already happened once.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: First, from the council: The White Center Library Guild‘s Holiday Bazaar is this Saturday, Pat Price reminded everybody, 11 am-3 pm: “It’s a small little bazaar, but please try to support it.” At 2 pm, a magician will perform in the meeting room at the Library, for the kids who are in attendance … This Saturday also is the White Center Summit at WC Heights Elementary School, 10 am-3 pm … She also reminded everyone of the December 8th meeting of the White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting at 6 pm … Then from the audience: Gill Loring reminded everyone of the next North Highline Fire Commissioners’ meeting next Tuesday (including newly elected commissioner Liz Giba), 10 am at NH Fire District HQ (which is where NHUAC meets) … Aileen Sison also wanted to remind everyone of the business groups presenting the White Center Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration on Sunday, December 11th, 5 pm at 16th and Roxbury (as reported earlier today on WCN) … There will be an Ugly Sweater party Saturday at Company, and White Center Heights Elementary students are making art for ornaments on the tree, she said, also during the sweater party/contest … She also told everyone about the “door-decorating contest” that is under way in White Center, using a polling feature on Facebook – you’ll be able to vote as the door photos go up. The deadline is December 23rd, she said.

Just spotted this on Aileen Sison‘s WC B.O.S.S. Facebook page:

Happy Holidays White Center! Join us! Second Annual White Center Tree Lighting Ceremony is Sunday, Dec 11th, 5 pm. Veteran’s Triangle Park 16th & Roxbury The Cross Carollers and Santa will be joining our celebration.

See you there!

New twist in the medical-marijuana situation – Governor Gregoire just announced she’s asked the federal government to reclassify marijuana so that it could be prescribed for medical treatment and made available at pharmacies. Read her announcement on our partner site West Seattle Blog.