White Center Now: The blog about White Center

White Center’s Steve Cox Memorial Park will look brighter and more colorful if you drop by this week- that’s thanks to the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council members who spent time planting flowers there on Saturday morning: Christine Waldman, Stephen Porter, Barbara Dobkin, and Rebecca Lopez were joined by White Center residents Gill and Alex Loring, reports Barbara, who shared the photos and the report – thank you!

(North Highline council members Barbara Dobkin, Rebecca Lopes, Christine Waldman, Jessica Stoneback, Ron Johnson, Patrick Mosley, Richard Miller, Pat Price, Stephen Porter [not pictured: Heidi Johnson])
Story and photos by Jonathan Stumpf
Reporting for White Center Now

First up from last night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting at North Highline Fire District HQ: The seven winners of the May 20 election (District 1: Pat Price, District 2: Stephen Porter, District 3: Jessica Stoneback, District 4: Christine Waldman, At Large: Rebecca Lopes, Barbara Dobkin and Richard Miller) were seated for the first time as active council members.

But those who previously served got a moment of recognition too: King County Councilmember Jan Drago‘s executive assistant Holly Krejci recognized, on behalf of Drago, past members for their “timeless work on behalf of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council,” collectively serving 12 years.

Up next, King County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Hancock shared the monthly crime report that included:

* three felony assaults
* 10 misdemeanor assaults
* one stabbing
* two shooting calls
* one homicide
* two robberies
* 25 burglaries, of which two were commercial
* 20 auto thefts

These statistics were alarming to council members and residents, considering just months ago Hancock’s crime report was significantly less. Hancock attributes this to fewer police on patrol, because the Weed and Seed and Byrne grants have finished funding and assisting with a higher police presence. Presently, this unincorporated area of King County has only two officers on patrol, and Hancock agrees that the numbers reflect this.

“We can’t do proactive police work,” said Hancock. “The best thing you can do as residents is be a good neighbor.” However, he did emphasize that should a high priority crime take place, backup is only minutes away from the Seatac or Burien police departments.

Council Member Patrick Mosley did ask about a new drug on the streets called ‘wet’–marijuana cigarettes dipped in embalming fluid — to which Hancock did say they had seen an increase in its abuse.

Also visiting from King County was Paulette Norman from the Roads Division of the Transportation Department, to distribute and discuss the South Park Bridge Final Closure Plan, also found here. Norman emphasized that even if funding was secured tomorrow, the bridge would still close as currently scheduled at 7 pm June 30th, because it would take almost three years to dismantle and rebuild a new one.

She did agree with most in the audience that the area around the bridge won’t look aesthetically pleasing for a while, and she also emphasized they are doing everything possible to help with the traffic diversions, including the installation of new digital message signs to help with communications of any traffic issues to commuters. These are going up along 1st Ave South, Highway 99, 509 and 599, hopefully she said, right around June 30, the day the bridge closes.

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meets the first Thursday of every month at the North Highline Fire District Office. Visit www.northhighlineuac.org for more info.

Mark your calendar! From the e-mailbox:

They honk, they squawk and they are back in their hometown in time to give Father’s Day a new sound. Fresh off the heels of a national tour, internationally acclaimed alt-jazz sextet, Reptet, will be performing six new compositions, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on June 20, at Big Al’s Brewery Tasting Room at 9832 14th Ave SW, White Center. The show is outdoors, appropriate for all ages, free, and open to the public. Funding for composing the six songs and the performance was provided in part by a grant from 4Culture, King County’s cultural services agency. The compositions will be released on the group’s third CD in the fall.

Seattle-based Reptet is an atypical modern jazz sextet consisting of bass, drums and horns. These six dynamic multi-instrumentalists are Samantha Boshnack (trumpet, slide trumpet, piccolo trumpet, flugelhorn), Nelson Bell (trombone, euphonium, tuba), Izaak Mills (tenor sax, bass clarinet, flute), Chris Credit (baritone sax, alto sax, tenor sax, clarinet), Tim Carey (electric & upright bass), John Ewing (drums & percussion). They play all original, kid-friendly music that challenges the discerning fan, while entertaining the casual listener. Reptet gained international recognition with their 2006 release, Do This! (Monktail Records), which was a 2006 Independent Music Awards finalist for Best Jazz Record of the Year, was chosen top jazz CD of 2006 by Jazziz Magazine’s Alex Gelfand, and made the top ten lists of many other writers and critics across the globe. They gained further recognition by winning two Earshot Jazz 2007 Golden Ear Awards – Best Outside Jazz Group and Best Live Performance (as part of the Monktail Raymond Scott Project). In 2008 they released their second full length CD, Chicken or Beef?, which further solidified their presence on the American music scene. Their most recent release is a red vinyl 45 RPM single/digital download entitled Agendacide.

In organizing the show, West Seattle resident and Reptet drummer, John Ewing, was looking for a way to give back to the community he calls home. Knowing that 4Culture is always on the look out to enable special events in underserved neighborhoods, he applied for a grant with White Center in mind. The idea for a Father’s Day performance was a natural because his 5-year-old son attends preschool in White Center. This has made the neighborhood a backdrop for both the development of his son and their relationship.

Big Al’s Tasting Room offers an outdoor, all-ages venue that encourages patrons to bring whatever prepared food they like, or take advantage of the two public grills on site – you can even bring along the family pooch. It has worked with other local businesses and agencies, to help transform a once neglected and economically challenged area of the county into a burgeoning artist’s community that takes pride in having one of the area’s greatest concentrations of cultural diversity and community pride.

For the first time since the May 20 election, the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meets Thursday night. From its website, here’s the agenda:

7:00 p.m. Call to order
Flag salute
Roll call
Approval of agenda
Approval of minutes
7:10 p.m. Public announcements
7:15 p.m. Public Comment – 3 minutes individuals
5 minutes groups
7:20 p.m. Election Report
7:25 p.m. Linda Robson, KC Council Jan Drago’s Office
7:30 p.m. Elect officers
7:35 p.m. Deputy Jeff Hancock, KCSO
7:40 p.m. Mike Martin, Burien City Manager
7:50 p.m. Sam Whitman, KC Parks
8:00 p.m. Jerry Robison, NHUAC Attorney
8:05 p.m. Paulette Norman, KC Roads – South Park Bridge
8:20 p.m. Committee Reports
1. Governance
2. Arts and Parks
3. Public Safety
4. Housing and Human Services
5. Public Outreach
6. Transportation
7. Steve Cox Memorial
8:30 p.m. Old business
Renew SCM artist contract
8:40p.m. New Business

The council meets 7 pm Thursday at North Highline Fire District HQ, 1243 SW 112th.

Just a few things – No school, no mail, no government offices (with a few exceptions), no banks; trash pickup is normal; Metro is on a Sunday schedule and Sound Transit Express buses are also on a Sunday schedule; libraries are closed; state liquor stores are open.

In addition to the Shorewood multi-sale event next Saturday, we also have these notes from the White Center Chamber of Commerce: The White Center Library Guild‘s annual yard sale is on Saturday, June 5, 1110 SW 116th Street, 10 am to 3 pm. … Then the White Center Kiwanis has its annual yard sale a week later – Saturday, June 12 — in the parking lot at 9826 14th Avenue SW.

In nearby Shorewood on the Sound, next Saturday is a day much like our recent West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – dozens of residents are having yard/garage sales. A couple folks in Shorewood have e-mailed to call our attention to this so we can share with you. They say the map’s not available online, but printed copies will be available in the neighborhood that day, and hopefully we will get a list to sales to share with you before then. Sale hours on Saturday are 10 am-4 pm.

With a Bartell Drugs location at 15th/Roxbury, you’ve got a chance to participate in this:

Bartell Drugs launches its “Stock the Pantry” food drive for Northwest Harvest by accepting nonperishable food items and cash donations at all 57 Bartell Drug locations from June 1 to June 13.

This two-week food drive, now in its second year, is especially important to help Northwest Harvest replenish food stocks during summer months–when families that normally depend on free or reduced-price school meals may struggle to provide those meals at home.

Last year the two-week drive generated more than 16,767 pounds of food donations as well as cash contributions for food banks in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. The company also donated 1,500 reusable bags for use by food bank clients.

Thanks to Stefanie at White Center’s celebrated Proletariat Pizza for the tip and the photo – The King County Fire Marshal posted that big green DO NOT OCCUPY notice at Evo, formerly Evolucion, today. We got word of this after 4:30 pm and tried half a dozen different county offices – all of which had already shut down, in most cases with the voice mail saying to call back Tuesday (or later). However, as noted earlier, tonight happens to be the White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting, at which the former Evolucion has been a topic of discussion many a time, so we hope to find out more within a few hours. (The notice mentions a violation of the International Fire Code, but we’re having trouble finding the section it appears to cross-reference.) 7:13 PM UPDATE: 1st word from the meeting is that the violation reportedly involves sprinklers that aren’t hooked up, while alleged occupancy violations remain under investigation.

From White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition leader Sean Healy, the agenda for tonight’s meeting:

Its highlights – including the newest changes planned for Metro Route 60, which serves White Center – were discussed as part of a wide-ranging public meeting last night. Here’s the detailed report published on our partner site West Seattle Blog. Bottom line remains, the bridge closes 7 pm June 30th, and the money to replace it hasn’t been rounded up yet.

Tonight is the second of two meetings for the public to hear about the closure plan for the South Park Bridge – now just a month away (7 pm, June 30th). The meeting’s 6-8 pm at the Machinists’ Union Hall in South Park; full details at the SP Bridge Closure page on the King County website.

While looking around for more information about Rat City Brass, whose Friday performance in West Seattle is now featured here, we noticed they’re playing during Jubilee Days – and then found that the WCJD schedule is taking shape in a big way. There’ll even be a fireworks show! Find out a lot more by checking out the WCJD website.

Evergreen Community Aquatic Center is among the organizations/businesses/entities tabling at today’s Westwood Village Street Fair, close to the White Center/West Seattle line, so if you go to the street fair, drop by and say hi! The events are all happening in the Bed Bath Beyond/Pier 1 Imports parking lot, till 7 tonight. We’ve got a schedule of events and other highlights in our coverage on partner site West Seattle Blog.

Just hours after the voting, the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council has posted news of Thursday night’s winners on its website:

District 1: Pat Price
District 2: Stephen Porter
District 3: Jessica Stoneback
District 4: Christine Waldman
At Large: Rebecca Lopes, Barbara Dobkin, Richard Miller.

They will be seated at the next meeting, June 3, 2010.

That meeting, like other NHUAC meetings, will be at 7 pm on the 1st Thursday of the month at the North Highline Fire District‘s HQ.

Thanks to Gill for sending the nudge – 6-8 pm tonight at North Highline Fire District headquarters, it’s time to vote for North Highline Unincorporated Area Council members. Candidates and eligibility info is here.

From Maggie Anderson at the King County Food and Fitness Initiative:

This morning a student (a young boy) was struck by a hit and run driver as he was attempting to cross the street to get to school today in white center. The boy is a student at White Center Heights Elementary School. According to the school office manager, the school has been waiting (since it was built a few years ago) for crosswalks to be painted and flashing lights to be installed so that children and families can cross safely. The young boy has leg injuries (possibly a broken leg).

The King County Food & Fitness Initiative (KCFFI) recently received funding from the WK Kellogg foundation to create opportunities for healthy eating and active living at White Center Heights Elementary School and 5 others between 2010-2012. Activities include leading focused efforts in two specific limited income public schools each year over the three year implementation period (totaling six schools over three years) as they relate to school wellness policies, improving meal and snack quality, farm to school, school gardening, safe routes to schools, physical activity and education, and school wellness advisory councils. The KCFFI plans on beginning that work in fall 2010.

What do safe walking and bicycling environments include?

* Neighborhood schools that are within walking and bicycling distance from homes
* Sidewalks or bike-paths that connect homes with schools
* Improved opportunities to cross streets (such as the presence of adult crossing guards, raised medians or traffic and pedestrian signals)
* Slow vehicle speeds accomplished through roadway safety measures (traffic calming) and/or police enforcement where needed

Safety education includes working with:

* Children – to provide them with basic safety education, such as how to cross streets, obey crossing guards and be visible to drivers.
* Parents – to create awareness of the need for pedestrian and bicyclist safety education and opportunities to walk and bike and by practicing safety skills with their children.
* Drivers – to alert all drivers to the presence of walkers and bicyclists and the need to slow down.
* Law enforcement – to enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety with school zone enforcement.
* Local officials – to identify changes needed to improve walking and bicycling conditions around schools.

Just posted at partner site West Seattle Blog: Normandy Park City Councilmember Shawn McEvoy says he’s in the running for King County Council District 8, the seat currently held by Jan Drago, appointed last year but not planning to run this fall (as of last time she discussed it publicly, anyway). McEvoy joins State Sen. Joe McDermott in the race.

This is a somewhat tangled tale – a 36-year-old man who worked for Highline Public Schools providing first aid at sports events, and also had volunteered with Evergreen High School, is now suspended by the state Health Department because of allegations of sexual misconduct. Our partners at the Seattle Times explain the story. And there’s more information in this HPS news release, which says the man was let go as soon as the district learned about allegations against him: Read the rest of this entry »

New information today on the 15th/Roxbury deadly shooting first reported here early yesterday – the King County Sheriff’s Office has sent this news release:

A shooting early Saturday morning (May 22nd) left a man dead in a White Center street. The incident occurred about 2:30 AM.

The victim was found in the eastbound lanes of the 1500 block of SW Roxbury Street. He was dead when police arrived after receiving a 9-1-1 call of a shooting. He was shot at least once, and in his early 20’s.

According to a witness who was driving by and heard several gunshots, the man stumbled out of an alley and collapsed in the street. There were numerous people in the alley, but most were gone when Sheriff’s deputies arrived, just minutes later.

No one has come forward who actually witnessed the shooting.

If anyone has information on the case they are asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 (24 hours) or 9-1-1.