White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Coach Tony Rago sends word that the White Center PAL (Police Activities League) will sponsor the amateur-boxing show “Opportunity Knocks” on March 27 at Evergreen High School. He says teams will be there from Portland and Vancouver, B.C., as well as Western Washington. The boxing starts at 6 pm; admission will be $10 adults, $5 kids 10 and under, with all proceeds to the White Center PAL Boxing Club. Call Coach Rago for more info – 206-293-3742.

While the next official City of Seattle public discussion of a possible southern North Highline annexation vote is not yet scheduled, the issue has again surfaced on a community-group agenda in West Seattle. Following up on their appearance before the Highland Park Action Committee two weeks ago, Seattle-annexation supporters Mark Ufkes and Peggy Weiss of the White Center Homeowners Association are scheduled to speak to the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council this Wednesday. The group — which includes reps from neighborhood groups and other key organizations around eastern West Seattle — meets at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge (4408 Delridge Way), 7 pm Wednesday.

The North Highline Unincorporated Area itself is about to get smaller … but it’ll still have a NH Unincorporated Area Council, and elections are about to happen in two stages – positions that become open when the Burien annexationon of south North Highline takes effect next month, and positions up for the “regular” election in May. Information about all of the above is available on the NHUAC home page – go here.

(added 2 pm, Evergreen High School Key Club and WC Kiwanis volunteers with WCFB’s Audrey Zemke)
Till 4 pm, you can take pet food to White Center Food Bank for the donation drive that’s wrapping up today – Key Club and Kiwanis volunteers are scheduled to be there to receive your donations. Food’s been collected the past few weeks at spots in Burien and West Seattle, too; here’s an update from our partner site West Seattle Blog.

From the King County Public Health Department this evening:

The *Del Rio Food Store* located at *10230 16th SW, Seattle 98146* was closed by a Public Health food inspector on March 12, 2010 at 2:30 pm for the following critical violations:

* Inadequate handwashing facilities
* Hands not washed
* Handling ready-to-eat foods with bare hands
* Cross contamination not prevented with raw meat storage
* Inadequate hot holding temperatures
* Inadequate cold holding temperatures
* Potentially hazardous foods at room temperature
* Toxic chemicals improperly stored

The establishment will be reopened once the inspector confirms that all issues have been resolved.

Two notes about the South Park Bridge situation – First, we covered another emotional community meeting last night; here’s the link to the article on partner site West Seattle Blog. Second, during a briefing with Metro today on a wide range of topics, we asked about bus-rerouting plans if the South Park Bridge indeed does close at the end of June. They said one of the bus routes that would be affected is the 60 from White Center; currently, their reroute plan would take buses down Cloverdale to 8th, with a left turn there. More to come.

From the White Center Eagles:

The White Center Eagles present “Ron Stubbs OUTRAGEOUS Rock & Roll Hypnosis Show”, ONE NIGHT ONLY, this Saturday, March 13th at 7 pm, tickets available at the door, just $20. Come experience the most fun you’ll ever have in your sleep!

Ron Stubbs puts on a fast paced, laugh a minute, modern, hypnotic comedic romp through the inner mind where the audience becomes the stars. Take all your preconceived notions of what hypnotic entertainment is supposed to be and toss them out the window. Prepare to experience an exciting, unforgettable evening.

Ron has been called “one of the most progressive stage hypnotists available worldwide”. His level of skill in the field is obvious as he guides the volunteers on stage into a deep hypnotic state. Within just minutes he has the audience splitting their sides with laughter throughout the performance, while participants from the audience have a blast on stage!

Come early for dinner – our kitchen will be open starting at 5pm until showtime.

After the show, stick around for entertainment with Moonbeam Karaoke, “the best karaoke west of the Duwamish”!

So asked one attendee in an overflow crowd at the South Park Neighborhood Center last night, as county reps – and others – talked about what is now looming as the June 30 scheduled closure of the South Park Bridge. We have a full article up at partner site West Seattle Blog – read it here. Also note that there is another meeting scheduled in South Park tonight, this one at 6 pm at South Park Community Center – more at Blogging Georgetown.

Lulina from San Paulo Brazil are playing at Full Tilt at 8pm. With them is Human Skab, a grunge era prodigy that put his first record out at 10 years old. He is doing a reunion of sorts tomorrow. This is an early show, starts at 8pm.

http://www.myspace.com/lulina

A local student from Evergreen College just finished a short film about White Center. Some cool stuff about the history of White Center and its landmarks are included:

One week from this Saturday …

The announcement accompanying the flyer:

Dubsea Coffee
March 20 2010
7-9 pm
9910 8th Ave. SW

www.dubseacoffee.com
www.myspace.com/asaroaxaca
www.asar-oaxaca.blogspot.com

ASARO ” The Assembly of Revolutionary Artists of Oaxaca ” is a collective of about 20 members who specialize in a variety of artistic communications, including stenciling, grabados ,murals , engraving , theater and fine arts.The collective was formed in 2006 in response to a call fromAPPO ” Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca “,[ a group formed as a teachers union, but whose makeup also includes general citizens and representatives from surrounding communities ] during their occupation of Oaxaca City . APPO made a call to artists of Oaxaca to discuss the possible responses to the violence and oppressive actions from the police and military during their public demonstrations. Ever since ASARO has been partaking in one of the most prolific visual Resistance projects in the state of Oaxaca. ASARO believes that public art in all it’s diverse disciplines is a form of communication that allows a dialogue with all sectors of society and which makes possible the visualization of the real conditions of existence.ASARO states” We summon all the artists who authentically look for the social transformation to be united to ASARO, to extend our creative front of resistance and to approach the art in all the sectors of society. The creative capacity is a strategy that historically the city of Oaxaca has used, to survive and to revitalize themselves… We propose to initiate an artistic movement, where the aim is the direct bonding with people in the streets and in public spaces.

Speaking to the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council last Thursday, our area’s County Councilmember Jan Drago warned that the county is absolutely serious about shutting down the South Park Bridge this June – and said that demolition would start shortly afterward. No mention of the possible reprieve reported recently in the Seattle Times, if new test results showed it might be safe enough to stay open for a while, as the county continued searching for funding to build a replacement. Whatever the case, there’s no question that bridge is a lifeline for many people in this area, so tonight’s South Park Neighborhood Association meeting is of major interesting – it will include an official King County update on the status of the bridge. The meeting starts at 7 pm, South Park Neighborhood Center, 8201 10th Avenue S. (map).

From Shelli at White Center for the Arts – one week from tomorrow!:

Community Artist Meeting
Facilitated by White Center for the Arts
Tuesday, March 16th at 7:00 PM

Proletariat Pizza
9622-A 16th Ave SW, Seattle –
(206) 432-9765

Who is invited? Artists who live in and those who love the GREATER White Center Area/ Unincorporated King County, and a little bit outside that line. That means ALL artists. Music, dance, film, theatre, visual, 3-D, photography, written, mixed-media, young, old, in-between, student, emerging, established, etc.

What is this about? This is about continuing the conversation about art and it’s impact in White Center. About creating your opportunities. What do you want/need from your community in order to further your work/goals? What can you give to your community to help strengthen it? White Center for the Arts is opening the line of communication. This is not a formal, stuffy meeting, but the third meeting of many where your voice can be heard, where new connections can be created, and we can figure out how to best accommodate you, the artist, in our own neighborhood.

If you can, please RSVP so that we know how much pizza to order for you!

Shelli:
crimsonpark@whitecenterforthearts.org

One week from today, Democrats from around the 34th Legislative District – which includes White Center, West Seattle, Vashon Island, and parts of surrounding communities (map above is from Sen. Joe McDermott‘s website) – are invited to Mount View Elementary School in WC for the district caucus. In an e-mail announcement, Tim Nuse, chair of the 34th District Democrats, explains: “We will accomplish a number of responsibilities during our 2010 Caucus. We will elect 35 delegates and 18 alternates to the King County and Washington State Conventions, who will bring forward the issues and concerns of neighborhoods throughout the 34th District. We will develop our district platform, identifying and highlighting those issues and concerns in platform items and resolutions. And we will likely hear from candidates running for election this November. The Caucus is your chance to meet your Democratic colleagues old and new and weigh in on those issues and policies that are most important to you and your neighbors in the 34th District. Come share your voice and lend democracy a hand.” The caucuses start at 1 pm. Republicans in the 34th District, meantime, have their district caucus coming up at 9:15 am March 27 at Southwest Community Center in West Seattle (map).

Play (basket)ball! Tryouts are coming up next week for youth basketball teams at Salvation Army Community Center (9020 16th SW) that play in an AAU League. Here’s the announcement from Rino:

We will be holding open tryouts for players looking for teams

4th, 5th, and 6th Grade
Tuesday March 9th – 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Thursday March 11th – 5:30 to 7:00pm

7th and 8th Grade
Tuesday March 9th – 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Thursday March 11th – 7:00pm to 8:30pm

Tryouts will be held at
Salvation Army CC
9020 16th ave SW
Seattle WA 98146

For more information contact Sean or Charles (206) 767-3150 ext 113

(Photo courtesy White Center Food Bank)
That’s Long Nguyen with his raised-bed garden at White Center Heights Park – and now you might be able to have one too, according to this announcement, which includes a call for community-garden volunteers:

Together with the White Center Community Development Association, the White Center Food Bank is announcing that applications for raised beds at White Center Heights Park are now available.

The garden is located at 102nd SW and SW 7th across the street from White Center Heights Elementary School. Community members will have an opportunity to use a raised bed to grow their own garden. Raised beds are free to garden for the season. Gardeners can also contribute a part of their harvest to feed the clients of the White Center Food Bank.

Now In its 3rd year, the garden will be a place where residents can come together as a community to grow food with neighbors, family and friends. White Center Food Bank is excited to be able to provide an opportunity to the community to increase self-sufficiency and celebrate the diverse cultures that make White Center a wonderful place.

Applications are available at the White Center Food Bank. Contact Audrey Zemke in person, at audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org or (206) 762-2848 for an application. Applications are due to the White Center Food Bank by March 30, 2010. A lottery system will be used to pick the 16 individuals or groups who will receive a raised bed.

The White Center Food Bank is also looking for people to help with the community garden. Volunteers are needed to help with composting, cleaning up before and after the season, educating gardeners, planning the kick-off garden event or year-end harvest celebration. If you want to be connected to a great community of gardeners, contact Audrey Zemke to volunteer.

That’s one of our personal favorite “Monty Python” TV clips. You got one? Or more? Mosey to Big Al Brewing noon-8 pm Sunday, where they’re promising to play as many classic “Monty Python and the Flying Circus” episodes as possible – and accepting donations for White Center for the Arts.

We arrived at the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting late after covering the West Seattle crash involving a police officer – and walked right into that standing-room-only crowd. First one we’ve seen in the year-plus we’ve been regularly covering NHUAC.

No surprise, of course, given that the prospect of Seattle annexing northern North Highline annexation figured prominently on the agenda. 20 people spoke in the public-comment section – and by one tally announced at the meeting, 14 were pro-Seattle, 6 were pro-Burien.

Among the pro-Seattle speakers was Mark Ufkes, who brought literature to answer critics’ questions about the White Center Homeowners Association that he leads – as well as fellow Seattle supporters filling most of the seats.

King County (and former Seattle City) Councilmember Jan Drago was on the agenda too, speaking about the South Park Bridge (more on that later) as well as about annexation – on which, she said, she’d been misquoted; she contends she told Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin she would not oppose annexation, not that she supported it.

But the guest who drew the most interest was Kenny Pittman, the point person in the Seattle mayor’s office regarding potential northern North Highline annexation. He had briefly canceled his appearance earlier in the week; NHUAC president Greg Duff says he convinced Pittman to come after all. He showed up at 8:50 pm – luckily the meeting was running past the projected agenda times, which had him on at 8:25 (the meeting didn’t end until 9:45). But he had answers for most of the questions lobbed at him.

One question: What about Evergreen Pool, which has now been closed for almost half a year? If Seattle annexes northern North Highline, Pittman says, the budget would be drawn up to include full operation of Evergreen just like any city of Seattle pool. (The nearest one is Southwest Pool, in West Seattle’s Westwood neighborhood.)

Speaking of budgets, though – that seems to be the sticking point that has the prospect of an annexation vote looking a little hazier than it did when we broke the story January 27th that Mayor Mike McGinn was moving forward.

The next Seattle City Council discussion of prospective annexation won’t happen until a financial analysis is done, Pittman said – and he didn’t offer a firm deadline for when that financial analysis is to be complete. It’s definitely meant the process is not moving along at the clip previously discussed, which at one point was going to have the council take it up next Monday – March 8th – for a vote indicating potential interest in, well, a (northern North Highline voters) vote. Instead, the issue is still in the jurisdiction of the Regional Sustainability and Development Committee that Conlin chairs, and its next meeting isn’t until March 16th. (You can watch for its agendas here.)

Meantime, Pittman promised there would be information-laden community meetings and other outreach before a vote, and that northern North Highline residents will know, for example, the potential differences in tax rates that they’d be deciding between.

As for other possible effects, here are toplines from what else Pittman said:
*The North Highline fire station would not close – at least in the first decade or so; he didn’t rule out a longterm strategy change if the city someday decided a different station in a different location would make more sense.
*Highline Public Schools would continue to run the northern North Highline schools they run now.
*King County Housing Authority would continue to manage Greenbridge – it would NOT become part of the Seattle Housing Authority.
*Sewer districts in the area would be “franchised”; Water District 20 would be contracted with, the other water district would be folded into Seattle Public Utilities, which would then employ its three staffers.

But, it seemed clear, this discussion would all be moot if the forthcoming financial analysis suggested it wouldn’t make sense for Seattle to pursue annexation. And – “I don’t know what the breaking point is,” Pittman acknowledged.

“Could we just not be annexed by anyone, ever?” one attendee asked at one point during the night.

No one had a set-in-stone answer for that, either.

Highline Public Schools has released more information on its plans for Cascade and Chinook Middle Schools, both of which are eligible for potential federal grants because they’re on the state’s list of lowest-performing schools. Read on for the district’s news release: Read the rest of this entry »

Thursday night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting has Kenny Pittman, annexation point person for the Seattle Mayor’s office, back on the agenda, according to NHUAC president Greg Duff. Meeting’s at the usual time and place – 7 pm Thursday, North Highline Fire District HQ, 1243 SW 112th (map). In other annexation-discussion news, West Seattle’s Southwest District Council is scheduled to hear from guests on the topic at next month’s meeting, 7 pm 4/7 at South Seattle Community College, according to an announcement at the end of the group’s gathering tonight.