White Center Now: The blog about White Center

A bit chilly – but spirited all the same – as the White Center Jubilee Days 2010 parade rolled on down the boulevard. Or trotted. Many of the horseback entries were truly resplendent, as that clip and this next photo, both shared by Deanie, show:

Gill shared this photo of a very young rider in the parade:

Lots of marchers, too. Here’s Deanie’s video of the famous Seattle Schools All-City Band:

And a photo of the Dolls drill team:

Deanie got another drill team, the Electronettes, in fine form:

And what local parade would be complete without the legendary Seafair Pirates? Gill’s photo catches the cannon smoke, too:

You don’t have to wait long for the next local parade – the West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade is next Saturday, down California SW in West Seattle from the Admiral District to The Junction business district, starting at 11 am.

Sure, the White Center Jubilee Days street fair is a place for fun. But it’s also a great place to meet the neighbors who keep your community running, often from behind the scenes. The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council has a booth (where they were gathering messages of appreciation for former White Center storefront King County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Hancock):

If you saw the annexation-related sign in the background – that wasn’t part of the NHUAC booth, but instead belonged to the one nearby where we found Liz Giba:

Lots more familiar faces at the fair – including at the White Center Food Bank booth (that’s executive director Rick Jump at right) – looking ahead to its big Harvest Dinner and Auction fundraiser on October 16th (5:30 pm, Brockey Center at South Seattle Community College):

Did you notice the little girl checking out the motorcycle in the back of that shot? Mark Elliott told us that if you come to the WC Food Bank booth and make a donation – you can get your photo taken on it too:

Also on hand – Sean Healy from White Center Community Development Association:

Sean also leads the White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition, which has its next meeting at 6 pm Thursday (WC DSHS office), great place to be if you have neighborhood crime/safety concerns and want to bring them up not just with neighbors, but with law-enforcement authorities, who are always represented. Back to who’s at Jubilee Days – we photographed Mark Ufkes in the White Center Chamber of Commerce‘s booth:

The North Highline Fire District, of course, is there – with personnel, fire trucks, and more:

And if you’re interested in talking about politics – say hi to our area’s biggest political group, the 34th District Democrats:

Businesses are represented at the street fair too – Kirk Mead was there on behalf of Alaska USA Credit Union, which is just over the West Seattle line at Westwood Village QFC:

And yes, fun stuff too. Especially for the little ones – look at the great signage for the kids’ zone:

Inside, a shady place to create:

If you missed it on Saturday, it all gets going again on Sunday – but first, a parade! That starts at 10 am. All the Jubilee Days info you could possibly need is here.

Find the schedule online in the sidebar here – vendors are scheduled to open at 10 today, the beer garden at 11. The parade, by the way, is tomorrow, 10 am. And if you see this before noon today, the White Center Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast is on now at Holy Family School!

So says King County – they’ve got some work to do. Here are the details.

Lions – TIGERS! – anybody seen bears? Just one scene from opening night at the White Center Jubilee Days Carnival at Steve Cox Memorial Park. The carnival’s open 5 pm-midnight again tonight …

…then Saturday and Sunday are when the big fun happens, starting at 7:30 am Saturday with the White Center Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast. The schedule of events is on the right sidebar on the Jubilee Days website.

We’re at the 34th District Democrats‘ monthly meeting in West Seattle’s Fauntleroy neighborhood, on behalf of White Center Now and partner site West Seattle Blog, and Burien City Councilmember Brian Bennett – toddler daughter in arms – is currently speaking to the group. Among the topics he’s touched on: Annexation of the rest of North Highline, including White Center. Bennett told the group he feels that “North Highline has the potential to be one of the most thriving, dynamic communities in our region, and they need strong representation – we need to make sure they get that. Personally, I favor giving them the opportunity to join Burien … I think they would have a strong voice, and that we can provide strong services to them … but we’re going to have to provide a strong voice (in making that happen).” (Bennett says he grew up on what is currently the line between North Burien and the remaining unincorporated area.) Currently Seattle is on a not-too-fast-track to pursuing a possible annexation vote next year; Burien considered fast-tracking one some months back, but ultimately pulled back.

No forest/yard burning as of tomorrow morning, per this notice just in from King County:

In concert with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and Pierce, Mason and Snohomish Counties, King County has called a Phase 1 burn ban to take effect at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 15, 2010 and will run through September 30, 2010. This burn ban applies throughout King County in both the incorporated and unincorporated areas.

Forest and yard debris burning is not allowed under a Phase 1 ban. This burn ban does not apply to federal forests or national parks, although these jurisdictions may have similar restrictions in effect.

This Phase 1 burn ban still allows recreational campfires in approved fire pits. However, campfires and fire pits are allowed only if they are located on private land with the landowner’s permission and if built according to the specifications below. These fires must:

• Be built in a metal or concrete fire pit, such as those typically found in designated campgrounds;
• Grow no larger than three feet across;
• Be located in a clear spot free from any vegetation for at least 10 feet in a horizontal direction, including a 20-foot vertical clearance from overhanging branches; and
• Be attended at all times by an alert individual with immediate access to a shovel and either five gallons of water or a connected and charged water hose.

King County Fire Marshal Jim Chan, in announcing the burn ban stated, “With local temperatures rising, we have called this burn ban to protect public health and safety during the summer months. This ban will be in effect throughout the summer and will be lifted on September 30, 2010.”

Not set up yet, but tonight, the rides have arrived at Steve Cox Memorial Park … and tomorrow night, the carnival opens, as White Center Jubilee Days festivities near. Tomorrow night also brings fireworks to the park, at dusk. Advance discount carnival tickets are on sale at locations including Full Tilt Ice Cream; a full schedule of events is on the Jubilee Days website.

Get down to the White Center Eagles‘ HQ before 7 pm and you can be part of this – help save lives, and raise some money too. Here’s our earlier preview.

In our coverage of the last White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting last month, we noted a trash problem outside the DSHS building, where the meetings are held these days. One meeting regular, who wanted to be anonymous, had expressed frustration with the problem, and had started documenting it:

Here’s a wider look at one area where trash was found, on the east side of the building, :

Once documented, it was time for action. The observer tried contacting someone in person, but was given a name, number and e-mail address for an office manager who finally was reached by phone the next day. After hearing about the problem, the observer says, the office manager said it was the problem of Prium Development Company, which owns the building, and is headquartered in Tacoma. Somebody in the building should be telling them about it, the observer insisted, and was told those in the building weren’t happy about it either, but that they expected the company to be sending a cleaning crew that day.

“Partial cleanup” ensued, according to our source. But not the dock area. If you’re thinking, well, so what, it’s just trash – as our source notes, it wasn’t just stray bits of paper. Examples of what was found:

So, the observer called the office manager again. Got only voice mail. Same thing the next morning, when our source tried yet again. No callback, so the next call was to the building owner. Our source was directed eventually to voice mail for a “facilities manager.” No callback. Eventually, contact was made. The onsite manager, our source says, continued to contend that it was the building owner’s responsibility, and that they’d been making requests too. However it played out, finally, after persistence from our tipster, the area got cleaned up:

Still tagged (we’ve blurred the tags as per our policy), but as our tipster puts it, “the public health menace is gone.” Will it stay gone? We’ll check back. We suspect the observer will too. If there’s something you’re concerned about, one message here is, don’t give up after one complaint, if action doesn’t immediately ensue. And find out who’s ultimately responsible. One helpful tool: Property ownership can be determined through the King County Parcel Viewer – you’ll find it here; have the exact address handy (or if you don’t know, trace it through the nearest intersection).

Noon-5 pm. We’re told it should be sunny by then! Here’s our original preview. Pick up your map at McLendon Hardware any time after noon and start walking!

From the good folks at the West Seattle-based Beer Church:

BEERS for B00BIES. A benefit for breast_cancer research.

Hello Seattle! Are you ready to Rock and Roll!

Beer Church wants to remind you that this Saturday we are hosting a fundraiser for Team Tracy and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Please come out and help us support this wonderful cause. The weather will be great and the beer will be even better.

The event takes place at Big Al Brewing from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. (address and map below).

Live music from Four on the Floor – classic rock from the 70s and beyond.

Big Al Brewing will generously donate a portion of the beer sales to the cause – $1 per pint and $2 per pitcher.
In addition to their considerable talents, Four on the Floor will donate T-shirts and tank tops. Make a donation, get a shirt.

We’ll be grilling up hot dogs/sausages. Make a donation, eat a dog.

This is an all ages venue. It’s an outdoor venue. Bring a lawn chair if you like and don’t forget the sunscreen. Consider earplugs if you’re noise sensitive. More event details on Facebook.

Just posted on the White Center Jubilee Days Facebook page:

7/17/ SAT Entertainment Main Stage
11:00 12:30 Perfect Weather
1:00-2:15 The Middle Age Crisis Band
3:00-3:45 Gadzooks
4:30-5:15 Blue Ribbon Boys
5:15-6:00 Rat City Ruckus
6:45-7:45 20 Riverside
8:15-9:15 Khingz
9:45 Gabriel Teodros

7/18 SUN Entertainment Main Stage
11 am -12 pm Gary Allen May
12:30 pm -1:30 pm Wrecked Chords
2 pm – 3pm Amateur Radio Operator
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Rat City Brass
5pm – 6 pm the Dusty 45’s

Also:

SAT.7/10 27th Annual Golf Tournament Foster Links Tukwila
12PM Scramble Start

SUN. 7/11 Garden Tour
Time TBD
WED. 7/14 – Carnival Opens
7 PM -12PM
WED 7/14 Ambassador Appoitnment
Eve. PM Precedes Fireworks At Steve Cox Mem Park
WED. 7/14 – Fireworks Ceremony
Dusk Steve Cox Memorial Park

THUR. 7/15 – Carnival
Time TBD

FRI. 7/16 – Carnival
Time TBD

SAT. 7/17 – White Center Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast
7:30 am – Noon 9615 20th SW, Holy Family School
Tickets on Sale Now see your Kiwanis Member

SAT. 7/17 – Street Fair opens 10am

SAT. 7/17 – Food Vendors Open 10 am

SAT. 7/17 – Beer Garden Open

SAT. 7/17 – Carnival
Time TBD

SAT. 7/17 – Car Show 10am

SUN. 7/18 – Parade
Staging at 9am
Parade starts 10 AM-11AM

SUN. 7/18 – Street Fair 10 am
SUN. 7/18 – Food Vendors 10 am
SUN. 7/18 – Beer Garden Opens
SUN. 7/18 – Carnival Opens

Given the recent changes in King County Sheriff’s Office matters regarding White Center, in case you’re not on the mailing list, we thought you’d be interested in this e-mail message from Sheriff Sue Rahr today:

Last month I talked about some of the ways we have been working to address and respond to the challenges of defining and sustaining a 21st century law enforcement organization. Because 85% of my budget is dedicated to labor cost, I have few discretionary resources and leeway.

But the challenges presented by the changing population, economic structure and new social expectations around technology, also present opportunities. Cumulatively, these changes provide me with some latitude in maximizing the 15% of my budget that I do control.

Annexations, contract city growth, and growing transportation needs have redistributed the population we serve as well as the way it moves. As a result, we are operating in a new geographic environment. On the policing side, the old Block Watch model is being reinvigorated and is reemerging as an outgrowth of new, electronic social networks. Now, once-small groups of neighbors are emerging as large, wired and connected organizations, such as the Greater Redmond Ridge Community Watch, who are proactively participating in each other’s lives and mutual safety.

These trends are driving a new reality with opportunities to change how we are operationally organized and physically distributed to best serve the citizens of King County. We simply need to be closer, more visible, accessible, and more responsive to our citizens.

Given these issues and the current economic situation, I have initiated an internal reorganization to first address how we are positioned for delivering our police services to you. We have reconfigured our 3 major precincts down to two primary and more efficient east and west operations. This will consolidate our largest unincorporated operations and concentrate a broader array of local and regional police services.

I am currently working with Executive Constantine to also look at our physical presence throughout King County. My goal is to find long term, cost effective, and mutually beneficial ways to increase our presence and visibility through our contract city relationships. We need more deputies who provide a variety of increasingly specialized skills closer to the people who need us. We are also examining ways to consolidate a variety of critical and interrelated regional operations such as Criminal Investigations, Property Management (evidence), AFIS, and Special Operations, into a centralized and logistically optimal campus-type location.

These ideas take time, vision, and hard work. But there is no better time than the current economic crisis to be constantly asking ourselves how, when and where can we do our job better and more cost effectively.

From Nancy @ White Center-headquartered WestSide Baby – they’re putting out the call for help:

WestSide Baby Sorting Frenzy Volunteer Opportunity Today!

We will open today, Monday July 5th (12-3pm) for a special volunteer opportunity for adults or children over age 8 (with adult along). Have the day off and want to do something worthwhile? WestSide Baby has been fortunate to receive many of your donations of clothing items. Now we need a little help sorting through the donations to prepare them for distribution. If you can read the size tags, look for dirt and holes and inspect clothes for holes, we’d love your help to attack the pile of clothes in this picture taken this morning. We have empty shelves of many sizes but we know those gems are actually hidden in this pile.

If you can call or e-mail to let us know you are coming that would be great! If not, just show up at we’ll welcome you and give you instructions on how to make a difference TODAY.

WestSide Baby
10032 15th Ave. SW

Wishing you a safe and happy 4th of July. Till midnight, it’s legal to use fireworks within the unincorporated area – but just the type that are sold here, not the heavy-duty kind. No fireworks show in White Center itself, nor in Burien – but there’s one in Three Tree Point. Burien does have a 4th of July Parade – starts at 3 pm (more info here).

In the spirit of Full Tilt and Proletariat – the latest entry in the creative-name-for-White-Center-food-business department! Thanks to Deanie for that photo of the new sign that’s gone up for the upcoming 3.14 Bakery, next to Pho 54 on the east side of 16th SW just south of Roxbury, formerly home to Sokha. The bakery operators have been updating their progress on Facebook (here’s their page).

Cool deal. 2-7 pm on Tuesday, July 13th, at the White Center Eagles‘ HQ, donate blood and get rewarded with a pint of beer or a spaghetti dinner – with the spaghetti being served on site 5-7 pm the same day. (Or just show up for dinner; it’s only $5.) They’re also signing up organ donors, AND collecting other donations including diapers for WestSide Baby. The big 8th/Roxbury crash on Friday afternoon reminded us all how important donated blood is – so do your part if you can, and be there.

3:30 PM: We’ve been covering this on partner site West Seattle Blog but it affects White Center drivers too – by Greenbridge, 8th/Roxbury is mostly blocked by a two-car crash. People have had to be extricated from the wreckage of one vehicle. At least three people are hurt. We’re at the scene and gathering more information now. 3:55 PM UPDATE: One lane is open each way at the intersection but you’ll still want to avoid it if you can, for a while – the Seattle Police investigation team has just arrived, and their work at scenes of major crashes usually takes a while. Here’s the scene once they put up the tape:

We now know that four people went to the hospital (at least one of them, a child, according to the scanner) – two by medic unit, two by private ambulance.

Now that July is here, it’s time for an avalanche of events. Jubilee Days is bigger than ever this year – and part of it will be the White Center Jubilee Days Garden Walk. Here’s the latest:

The White Center Jubilee Days Garden Walk is back this 2010 with generous support from this year’s Title Sponsor – McLendon Hardware, White Center. The walk will be held on Sunday, July 11th from 12 noon to 5:00pm. The event will start in White Center McLendon Hardware parking lot, where tour maps will be provided.

This will be a FREE Jubilee Days and Seafair sanctioned event that will be open to all ages. There will also be a vote for the favorite garden as well as prizes for those participating in the treasure hunt.

With the help of Garden Walk veteran Peggy Weiss, co-chair volunteers Donnie McDermott and Heather Huling will do their best to make this year as great as years previous.
~
For those interested in joining the fun just meet us at McLendon’s at 12 noon on Sunday, July 11th. For questions or more information, please visit us at: http://www.jubileedays.org/garden/gardenwalk.html
Hope to see you there!