White Center Now: The blog about White Center

It’s going on noon, and we’re just back from a quick tour of some White Center Spring Clean sites. First, above, we stopped at White Center Community Development Association HQ, where the Polynesian Club was helping out with a planting project – a few members stopped to pose with “Miss Piggy” outside the office. Across the street, the triangle’s getting some love too:

In the downtown business district, Rat City Rollergirls are working at several spots – this group was at the second of 15 businesses in need of window-washing:

Across 16th SW, King County Sheriff’s Office community-service Officer Vary Jackson was outside the KCSO storefront with planters and plants:

As we pulled up, a well-known White Center-based entrepreneur happened to be wheeling one of the planters away – Full Tilt Ice Cream‘s Justin Cline:

WCCDA had signed up more than 500 volunteers for White Center Spring Clean even before the big day arrived.

ORIGINAL 3:09 AM REPORT: If you’ve heard helicopter noise and sirens, it’s related to the investigation of an apparent fatal shooting at 15th/Roxbury in the 2 am hour. Suspect was described as a black male in his 20s, black hoodie, white Crown Victoria with “big rims,” last seen driving northbound into West Seattle. No other details at this point.

UPDATE: This is a King County Sheriff’s Office case, as evidenced by the crime tape that was still up at the scene when we checked back just after 6 am. The tape ran from the 16th/Roxbury corner by Pho 54 to just west of the Texaco at 15th/Roxbury. No other details available so far except that one person is dead. 2ND UPDATE: Our partners at the Seattle Times quote KCSO as saying the victim was a man in his 20s, reportedly a gang member.

Thanks to Kate for sending word via Facebook that preparations are under way for tomorrow’s mega White Center Spring Clean event. Curb bulb work is happening at 16th and Roxbury – and that’s where we snapped the photo. Just around the corner, it was time for a treat:

Full Tilt Ice Cream, by the way, is featured this Sunday in a New York Times article, online now, about Seattle-area sweets. Read it here.

The folks at Cascade Middle School e-mailed to ask if we’d share their invitation to parents of 6th graders in the White Center area, getting ready for 7th grade – You’re all invited to Cascade’s parent-night meeting May 25, 6:30-8:30 pm, where you’ll find out about the school’s transformation and get to meet the new principal. Here’s the official flyer.

At the 34th District Democrats‘ meeting in West Seattle tonight, one of the highlights was the endorsement vote in the State House Position 2 race. Before the vote, one of the three Democratic candidates, Mike Heavey, withdrew from the endorsement process, leaving the 34th DDs to choose between West Seattleites Marcee Stone and Burien’s Joe Fitzgibbon. The membership and PCO votes both went for Stone. The three Democrats are in the race with one independent, White Center entrepreneur Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy; the top two vote-getters in the August primary will advance to the November general. Earlier in the night, State Sen. Joe McDermott formally kicked off his campaign for King County Council, with an event preceding the 34th DDs’ regular meeting.

From Shelli at White Center for the Arts:

White Center 3rd Saturday Art Walk
May 15th, 2010
6:00 PM until 9:00 PM

Salvadorean Bakery (1719 SW Roxbury): Marty Gordon– collage

Through his art, Marty is asking questions, inviting debate and telling stories. Looking at one of his works is akin to peeking through a window into another world, a world where art, humor, faith, tension and candidness live together in vignettes of surreal commentary.

Dubsea Coffee (9910 8th Ave SW):
Jaime Temairik – paintings and drawings. The artists reception will be Sunday, May 16th from 2 until 4. Here’s a note from the artist:

“Hey Kids!

I’ll have some new paintings and drawings up mid-May to mid-June at my favorite cafe, Dubsea Coffee!

How’s about you and your fam join me for the opening party on Sunday afternoon, May 16th?

There’ll be snacks and an art activity and maybe even some boogie-ing…”

Café Rozella (9434 Delridge Way Southwest):

Full Tilt Ice Cream (9629 16th Avenue Southwest): Richard Olmstead – drawings and prints. New works. This is good stuff.

Proletariat Pizza (9622 16th Ave SW): Alexander King – photography

Dzul Tattoo (9622 16th Ave SW B):
Dzul Family – Airbrush and Tattoo

Big Al Brewing (9832 14th Avenue Southwest):
Phil Scroggs – paintings. http://www.phillustrations.com/
And… 7:00 PM at Big Al Brewing DO NOT MISS “Billy and the Bouncers” a local jazz combo!

While the upcoming closure of the 1st Avenue South ramp to the westbound (high) West Seattle Bridge won’t affect White Center drivers as much as their WS counterparts, for bus riders, it’s a different story. The ramp closes permanently one week from today, as the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project enters a new phase. Our latest update over at WSB includes links to the bus routes expected to be affected, plus detour maps.

(Photo posted on WCN after last year’s Spring Clean)

This Saturday is the big day, and according to the White Center Community Development Association site (you can see its latest headlines any time atop the right sidebar), registration has closed with 500 volunteers – more than last year’s turnout! 8:30 am-2:30 pm is the time, 17th and Cambridge is the starting place. You can also read more about it in the White Center Chamber of Commerce‘s latest newsletter.

Earlier this week, we mentioned that White Center Arts Alliance is participating in tomorrow’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, presented by our partner site West Seattle Blog – and we wanted to make sure you also knew that Village Green Perennial Nursery is on the map too. Speaking of maps, you can get yours by going to the official WSCGSD website at westseattlegaragesale.com – there’s a clickable Google Map which has been updated with last-minute cancellations plus an addition, and there’s a printable PDF version of the map (it doesn’t reflect those changes, so be sure to make note of them; they’re listed on that site too). If you don’t have a printer, closest place to get a pre-printed sale map is Bird on a Wire Espresso in the south West Seattle neighborhood of Westwood.

Toplines from last night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council< meeting: Council members voiced concerns about the county’s public-safety cuts – which elected officials say will have to be made unless new revenue is found, such as the sales-tax increase that’s being proposed for the August ballot. Heidi Johnson proposed writing to County Executive Dow Constantine to voice the NHUAC concerns, and her fellow councilmembers agreed. They’re already worried about a perception of lower King County Sheriff’s Office presence in what remains of the unincorporated area. Other councilmembers are suggesting that KCSO Major Jim Graddon come to a future NHUAC meeting to discuss the staffing situation.

The upcoming election was another big topic. If you’re eligible to vote in the NHUAC elections – check complete information on the council’s home page – you can come to the North HIghline Fire District headquarters between 6 and 8 on Tuesday night, May 20th, to cast your ballot. (Candidates also are listed on that page.) Council members who are not on the ballot this time will be there too, to listen to community concerns.

As usual, the council heard from Burien City Manager Mike Martin. His briefing included news of an opening ceremony at 10 am next Tuesday for the satellite City of Burien office at 11846 Des Moines Memorial Drive (map). The ceremony will include dedication of a plaque honoring the late NHUAC member Barb Peters.

The approaching June 30th closure of the South Park Bridge is on the council members’ minds too – they’ve sent a letter to the federal Department of Transportation, cc’d to Sen. Patty Murray and County Executive Constantine, expressing support for finding money as soon as possible to replace the bridge.

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council regularly meets the first Thursday of the month, 7 pm, at North Highline FD headquarters; find them online at www.northhighlineuac.org.

Tonight at 7 pm, it’s the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting – the recent annexation of what’s now North Burien has changed the area represented by the council, but they remain – for the remaining unincorporated area – the official community council. And toward that end, they’ve also set the location/time for the upcoming elections: May 20, 6-8 pm. Tonight’s meeting AND the elections are in the same location, North Highline Fire District Headquarters, 1243 SW 112th (map). Full details of candidates and voter eligibility can be found on the NHUAC home page. Now, here’s tonight’s agenda:

7:00 p.m. Call to order
Flag salute
Roll call
Approval of agenda
Approval of minutes
7:05 p.m. Public announcements
7:10 p.m. Public comment – 3 minutes for individuals
5 minutes for groups
7:15 p.m. KCSO – Report
7:25 p.m. Rachael Levine – White Center Library Guild
7:35 p.m. Dick Thurnau – Friends of Hicks Lake
7:45 p.m. Election Candidates
8:00 p.m. Treasurers Report
8:05 p.m. Corresponding Secretary Report
8:10 p.m. Committee Reports
1. Governance
2. Arts and Parks – Flower Planting & Movies in the Park
3. Public Safety
4. Housing and Human Services
5. Public Outreach
6. Transportation
7. Steve Cox Memorial
8.20 p.m. Old business
8:25 p.m. New Business

From partner site West Seattle Blog: King County says the final consultant review of the South Park Bridge’s condition is in, and it reaffirms the county decision to close the deteriorating bridge on June 30th. Full story here.

Just four days till the 6th annual – and biggest ever – West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – and White Center Alliance is part of it – look for sale #193, at 18th SW and SW Cambridge. If you’re interested in wandering even further north to shop, here’s the direct Google Map link). We also have a more packet-like printable map. It’s a 12-page Word doc (6 pages if you print both sides). If you’d rather print from a PDF, use this link. The sales are all open for business 9 am-3 pm this Saturday ONLY.

Seattle CIty Light says it’ll have energy-conservation experts at McLendon’s Hardware in White Center this Saturday, 10 am-1 pm, to help you learn about saving money as well as energy. Here are the full details.

Seattle Channel‘s “Inside/Out” show focuses this time on the South Park Bridge, its impending closure, and the community members who hope it won’t be as devastating as their fear. You can watch the entire program in the video window above (or you can watch it this week on the Seattle Channel, if you have it on your cable system).

With not just the snip of ceremonial scissors but also shouts of THANK YOU! – the former Evergreen Pool, closed 7 months ago, formally reopened at midday today as Evergreen Community Aquatic Center. King County Executive Dow Constantine was there to help, and he called the public/private endeavor to get it reopened “a shining example … of new partnerships” – here’s his speech:

Also speaking, with proud words at the end of a long, determined effort to make this happen, were WhiteWater Aquatics vice president Bryan Hastings and ECAC general manager “Coach” Joel Schweiger:

A free public swim followed the dedication. The pool’s schedule, as linked here a few weeks ago, can be found here.

Two big events in White Center today:

*Evergreen Community Aquatic Center‘s official ribboncutting, with King County Executive Dow Constantine scheduled to be on hand, 10:30 am, followed by a free community swim till 1 pm. The pool – reopened thanks to the work of WhiteWater Aquatics and community support, after county budget cuts closed it last fall – is at 606 SW 116th (map)… West Seattle Montessori School and West Seattle Academy are raising money with a plant sale today, and you’ll find more than plants: Student performers, Master Gardener Q/A opportunities, even an espresso bar. 11215 15th SW (map), 9 am-2 pm, full details on the school website.

Today is the final day of the annual Feinstein Challenge – and that means any help you provide to the White Center Food Bank, today, counts for extra, as part of the match that’s involved. So think about contributing some cash, or dropping off some food, or checking in to see if there’s anything else they need. Donation links and lots of info can be found at whitecenterfoodbank.org. (And while you’re at the WC Food Bank site, don’t miss the “blog” section – lots of interesting tidbits about programs and ongoing efforts “behind the scenes.”)

About an hour ago, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Sheriff Sue Rahr, Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg and others unveiled a new proposal to reduce the amount of budget cuts faced by the criminal-justice and human-services systems: They will ask voters if they would OK a sales-tax increase of 0.2 percent. Among other things, the explanation of where the money would go says that storefront deputies would be preserved – right now, their jobs are on the chopping block because of impending budget disaster. Read more here.

If you haven’t already seen it on partner site West Seattle Blog, here’s the link to our full-length article – with one video clip from a particularly impassioned community member – about last night’s meeting on the “draft closure plan” for the South Park Bridge. The plan itself also is available online, and is linked in the story.