White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Heard about this via Twitter (where you can follow WCN at @whitecenternow) and got the details in e-mail from Hang Around Bar and Grill (formerly The Wall, as reported here recently) owner Joe (who says he’s retired NYPD):

My place was burglarized on Sunday after closing by possible known suspects who entered by the front dorr with a key and exited through the back door, taking the POS system, took 15 bottles of closed liquor (top shelf), opened the safe knowing the combination and removed over $4000.00 in cash that was to be deposited on Monday.

The machines (games) were never touched and the DJ equipment still intact.They knew exactly where the DVR1 video camera recorder was and took that as well. Detectives are now handling this from the King County Sheriff. Street Cops are also doing their job on locating these criminals. We lost over $14,000.00 in equipment, merchandise and cash.

The rent $$$ was in that deposit as well. we are trying to recover but as you might know, we just opened and is struggling as it is. We wanted the neighbors to come in and play darts, pool, play music, Dance, drink and just have a great time on Friday as we would call it a recovery party. I figure i can try to get cash to recover from this somehow. I can provide food if need be. This really hurt us mentally, physically and emotionally. We all know in White Center who is the culprit. The police WILL take care of this forthwith! … ~Joe & Glennis

A White Center family is looking for that dog – here’s the story:

On feb 1, 2010 I arrived home from work and found my back door kicked open,nothing missing but my dog! She is part chow chow, part pit bull. She has very light brown eyes and black spots on her tongue. Her name is BB and she is very well cared for and loved. We live behind Holy Family in White Center.
If found please contact 206-436-9015

(1:56 pm note – will continue to add more as the day goes on – just now adding the PPT from today’s briefing)

11:35 AM: Lots of information in the briefing that just wrapped up before the Seattle City Council – first formal briefing since it was revealed last week (we broke the story at WSB) that Seattle’s new Mayor Mike McGinn wants White Center annexation to go to a vote this fall.

Despite what information was presented, it wasn’t enough for councilmembers including Council President Richard Conlin, who concluded by saying – “We need to have a LOT more information,” particularly regarding what the annexation would really cost Seattle. And concern also was voiced regarding whether enough information is getting to the White Center residents who would vote – mayoral adviser Kenny Pittman acknowledged he had not spoken to the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council yet, but had received “e-mail over the weekend” and was going to be on their agenda in March (though their February meeting hasn’t happened yet). The timeline is a fast one – it was explained that the Seattle council needs to vote by early March on expressing an interest in putting annexation to White Center voters, even though a final vote on asking the county to put it on the ballot would not happen until August. Between now and that March 8 vote, Council President Conlin’s Regional Development and Sustainability Committee will discuss the issue on February 19, then vote March 2nd on indicating an interest in a vote – again, no strings attached. The big gap between March and August, it was explained, is to pursue the rest of the process, including going before the Boundary Review Board.

ADDED 11:53 AM: A lot of data points from the meeting: Seattle leaders say White Center would get a higher level of police and fire services if annexed, and say that any existing King County Sheriff’s and North Highline Fire District employees who would stand to lose their jobs because of annexation would be first in line, depending on seniority and qualifications, for jobs with Seattle Police and Fire. As for sidewalks – that’s one big question, the capital needs of the potential annexation area.

Interesting note relating to a discussion that’s been ongoing in comments here: Seattle says they’ve been told by Burien that though the Memorandum of Understanding wasn’t officially finalized by Seattle council members, Burien intends to honor it, and not pursue annexation of White Center – if Seattle hasn’t done it by then – until after 2011, per the terms of the agreement. Also, existing card rooms in the area to be annexed would be allowed to continue to operate, though no new ones would be approved, and the revenues Seattle is counting on the area generating, it was noted, depend on those businesses, among others.

The annexation area would NOT include the South Park Bridge – that would remain an unincorporated small sliver under terms of a different city-county agreement sometime back that apparently says that once the SP Bridge is replaced, then the city would consider annexing the area.

And White Center schools would remain in the Highline Public Schools district, until and unless Highline and Seattle decided otherwise (with approval required by the Puget Sound Educational Service District).

The ideal scenario that Pittman described would include the annexation – if approved by White Center voters this fall – NOT taking effect till early 2012, so that the city budget process could proceed with detailed information on how to handle the transition.

ADDED 1:56 PM: After the briefing, we asked for a copy of the PowerPoint that Christa Valles from Council Central Staff had shown – just received it and converted it to PDF; you can see it here. During today’s briefing, Valles repeatedly said she was recommending that the mayor’s office commit more resources to the process – both to get information to the council, and to the people directly affected by the potential annexation.

When we broke the news Wednesday on partner site West Seattle Blog that Seattle’s new mayor wants White Center to vote on annexation this November, we got word that the Seattle City Council would get briefed during its morning meeting tomorrow (Monday 2/1). We now know from the online agenda that the discussion is set for 10:30 am. If you can’t be there, you can watch live online via the Seattle Channel.

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council has its regular monthly meeting this Thursday – 7 pm, North Highline Fire District HQ – first meeting since the announcement that Seattle’s new Mayor Mike McGinn wants White Center to vote on annexation this November. (We’ll learn more about that during a Seattle City Council briefing tomorrow morning.) Here’s the agenda, provided by NHUAC president Greg Duff:

AGENDA

February 4, 2010

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 for individuals
5 minutes for groups

7:25 p.m. Update from Deputy Jeff Hancock, KCSO

7:35 p.m. Update from Mike Martin, Burien City Manager

7:45 p.m. Code Enforcement Al Tijerina Q and A

8:15 p.m. Treasurers Report

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

8:35 p.m. Old business

8:45p.m. New Business
1. Discussion on White Center/Boulevard Park Libraries
2. Discussion on Feb. 10 meeting with Dow Constantine
3. Discussion on Seattle’s annexation announcement

Sunday morning, 9 am-noon, White Center Eagles, 10452 15th Ave SW, as noted here earlier this week – breakfast proceeds today go to relief efforts in Haiti; prices $2 to $9.

From King County Department of Transportation:

The King County Road Service Division is advising motorists that the previously scheduled closure of the South Park Bridge has been postponed due to a delay in obtaining a permit for the work. The bridge had originally been scheduled to close for a four-day period for testing beginning Sat. Jan 30. The testing will be rescheduled for a later date.

Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Officers Adonis Topacio and Jill Vanskike were both at the White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting Thursday night to pass the baton, in a way. She’s taking over the CPT work in the precinct’s southeastern turf; he’s moving to the west. With them, but not pictured, was Lt. Norm James, who also is in a new role at the precinct, that of Operations Lieutenant, since Lt. Steve Paulsen is transitioning to the West Precinct downtown. As we’ve reported on partner site West Seattle Blog, Lt. James has been with the precinct for several years, so he knows the area and the issues. He also introduced John McGoodwin, who’s taking over as SW Precinct city attorney liaison since Beth Gappert has moved to Vice.

All those introductions took up most of the discussion involving the Seattle side of the Community Safety Coalition’s turf, aside from a few items that also came up last night when Officer Topacio was at the Highland Park Action Committee meeting – including graffiti in Highland Park (last night’s questions involved 12th SW between 8200 and 8400).

Officer Topacio was asked about an e-mail going around from a West Seattle burglary victim claiming police were trying to catch a gang of teen burglars that was striking multiple times each day; he pointed the inquirer to our WSB story debunking that part of the tale.

On the King County Sheriff’s Office side of the line, Deputy Jeff Hancock was late to the meeting – said he’d been in a foot chase with someone wanted by the state Department of Corrections; the suspect was caught after running into Brewsky’s in downtown White Center. The only other update he offered was that “person-to-person” robberies are way up over this time last year, and no one yet knows why.

The rest of the meeting focused on a presentation about the Strength of Place Village affordable-housing project, 30 units planned for 13th SW/SW 100th (right behind Big Al Brewing). Architects Roger Tucker and Vlad Oustimovitch, with Kate Stineback from project overseers Capitol Hill Housing, gave a presentation and answered questions. We first reported plans for the project on WSB more than two years ago; according to a handout circulated at last night’s meeting, they’re hoping to break ground on the 30-apartment project this June, wiht the first families moving in a year later.

White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meets at 6 pm the fourth Thursday of the month, now at DSHS offices, 9650 15th SW.

It was The Wall, but it is now called The Hang Around, and it is owned by a New York cop Joe Diageranimo, who has spent the past three weeks cleaning up the place. “Personally I have cuffed and taken down to the King County jail five guys. I am not going to put up with it any more.”

His efforts have made a real change in the place. I went there tonight and it is a completely different bar. Locals were hanging out playing pool, and a Dj was playing old school hip hop and soul. Couples were hanging out playing pool, and there was a distinct lack of “thug” vibe about the entire place.

The entire bar felt safe. The new owner has brought in a doorman, and has made a real commitment to keep the place clean and safe. We have all heard stories about The Wall. This is a different place. It is family run and operated. Just a nice and clean place for the neighborhood to hang around in. About time.

Out of the WCN inbox:

EVENT: Benefit Breakfast for Haiti
WHEN: Sunday, January 31, 2010 9am-12pm
WHERE: White Center Eagles, 10452 15th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98146, (206)248-1400

White Center Eagles, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2568, serves a hearty breakfast every Sunday, 9am to 12pm at very affordable prices ($2-$9). This Sunday, January 31, 2010, all proceeds will be donated to the relief efforts in Haiti. The Eagles are “People Helping People”, please join us for breakfast this Sunday to help those in need in Haiti.

Thank you,
Joby Boles
Worthy President
White Center Eagles, FOE Aerie #2568

(Photo by Dina Johnson)
Only one guest was truly two-dimensional at last night’s lively wake for local activist/advocate Cherisse Luxa: The life-size cardboard version of Howard Dean, for whom Ms. Luxa had served as a delegate during his presidential run (above, that’s Liz Giba with “Flat Howard”). A month and a half after her death from cancer at age 62, she was feted tonight by a standing-room-only crowd at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub in Burien, with friends from West Seattle to White Center to Burien and beyond (in both directions) crowding the pub, like the 34th District Democrats‘ King County Committeeman Ivan Weiss:

(Photo by Dina Johnson)
Dina Johnson took that photo while, as she says, he was “speaking about his admiration and respect for Cherisse as an ally, and occasionally adversary. (He) said the only time she was wrong is when she asserted she could get Dave Reichert to flip parties and become a Dem.” Also in that photo, State Sen. Joe McDermott at right, Liz Giba at left.

(Photo by Dina Johnson)
Dina also made and photographed that collage of scenes from Ms. Luxa’s life (given to her family). We took a photo of one of the snapshots you see in that collage – one from her years with the King County Sheriff’s Office:

(WCN/WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
Reminiscences of Ms. Luxa’s law-enforcement work were shared, too, says Dina: “… we found out she loved ‘bones and bugs’ forensics that date the death of a corpse.” And an emotional moment: “A short video was shown of her testimony about annexation at a public hearing, from just a week before she was hospitalized. I felt, being familiar with her normal voice, that she spoke with some difficulty, but it was not obvious. That made me tear up.” Last night’s wake took the place of the monthly Drinking Liberally event, at which Ms. Luxa had long been a fixture.

Got first word in a comment on an earlier story – then got a copy of the letter the commenter mentioned, and we have just spoken with the adviser to Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn whose name is on the letter: Seattle wants White Center to vote on annexation this November. The process will start with senior adviser Kenny Pittman briefing the Seattle City Council next Monday. We’d heard from one councilmember, Jean Godden, just last week regarding the annexation issue. Pittman says of course other hearings and discussions will be involved – public meetings, the Boundary Review Board, etc. – but ideally, annexation of everything between the current Seattle city limits and the soon-to-be northernmost Burien border will be involved. Here’s the letter:

We have a message out to Burien City Manager Mike Martin for comment and will be contacting Seattle Council President Richard Conlin. While Burien, King County and former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels had agreed last year to a “memorandum of understanding” giving Seattle what amounted to first right of refusal on this area, the Seattle Council (with only Godden dissenting) had declined to approve it. ADDED 3:30 PM: Speaking for Seattle Council President Conlin, Rob Gala says, “(He) is ready to put this before the council – we’ll start talking about it right away. He’s been an advocate of annexation for a while, and we’re ready to put it before the people for a vote.”

Dubsea’s Joerael Elliott shares the poster:

Day after the White Center Community Development Association put up that hip-hop video about green job opportunities, a news release just in from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation includes word of a $200,000 grant for WCCDA’s “green jobs initiative” (and other nonprofit endeavors):

Providing foreclosure counseling for distressed homeowners in southern Oregon and supporting the development of a green jobs initiative for young adults in Seattle’s White Center neighborhood are among the grants recently awarded by The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. These latest grants reflect the Foundation’s continued focus on strengthening the social safety net for those living on the financial edge as well as supporting longer-term initiatives to help low-income families and individuals achieve economic stability.

“During one of the most dramatic economic downturns in history, we remain committed to helping our nonprofit partners and the communities they support respond and adapt to these growing challenges,” said Susan M. Coliton, vice president of The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. “Our latest grants will help people build the long-term social and economic assets they need for economic stability in these uncertain times.”

As part of its latest round of grants awarded in 2009, The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation announced $4.6 million in grants to nonprofit organizations. The Foundation awarded grants to 66 diverse non-profit organizations in the Pacific Northwest region (including 38 nonprofits in Washington, 18 in Oregon, four in Alaska, four in Idaho, and two in Montana).

Providing Economic Relief and Building Family Assets

The Foundation continues its focus on helping nonprofit organizations meet growing community needs during the current economic crisis. The latest grants include $50,000 to the Umpqua Community Development Corporation (Roseburg, Ore.) to help it meet increasing demand for foreclosure counseling, with the goal of assisting 700 Oregon homeowners facing foreclosure.

In addition to helping individuals in crisis, the Foundation’s latest grants will also help people build income streams and learn new skills to create long-term financial stability. The Foundation awarded $200,000 to Hacienda Community Development Corporation (Portland, Ore.) to expand its entrepreneurial micro-enterprise program called Micro Mercantes that provides mentoring to Latina women in becoming successful food vendors at local farmers’ markets; and $200,000 to White Center Community Development Association (Seattle, Wash.) to develop a green jobs initiative that will take advantage of federal stimulus funding to train young adults in home weatherization as a foundation for additional education, training, and employment security.

Expanding Educational Opportunities for Youth

The Foundation’s latest grants continue to support initiatives that test new models within the K-12 public education system and expand opportunities for youth to develop new interests, skills, and abilities. Grants include $400,000 to the Washington State STEM Education Foundation (Kennewick, Wash.) to support comprehensive professional development for teachers at Delta High School, a new high school focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the Tri-Cities region; $100,000 to the Portland Schools Foundation to support Ninth Grade Counts, a broad-based program to increase high school graduation rates and workforce readiness for Portland youth; $150,000 to Business Education Compact (Beaverton, Ore.) to increase capacity and facilitate expansion of their Proficiency-Based Teaching and Learning program to reach more than 1,300 educators; $50,000 to IslandWood (Bainbridge Island, Wash.) to support a two-year pilot program called Stewardship Stories in partnership with the Seattle Park and Recreation Department to provide hands-on environmental education programs for Seattle youth; and $60,000 to the National Wildlife Federation (Anchorage, Alaska) to expand a green jobs program for teens in rural Alaska.

Continuing a Longstanding Commitment to the Arts

Arts and culture grants in the latest round of giving include support for many of the Foundation’s longstanding nonprofit partners, including the Seattle Chamber Music Festival, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle and Perseverance Theatre, among others. The latest grants include support for annual arts programming as well as initiatives that help arts organizations strengthen their financial condition and sustain themselves during the recession and beyond.

Arts and culture grants include $75,000 to the Idaho Shakespeare Festival (Boise, Idaho) to support the Tessitura Consortium project, an initiative that creates a technology-sharing partnership with the Boise Contemporary Theater to integrate ticketing, donor, educational and financial data systems that improve operational efficiencies and customer service; $40,000 to the Contemporary Crafts Museum & Gallery (Portland, Ore.) to support the organization’s integration with the Pacific Northwest College of Art by providing improved infrastructure, training and staffing support.

Other key grants include $25,000 to the Seattle Chamber Music Festival for marketing initiatives to increase ticket sales and expand the organization’s 2010 Summer Festival audience base at its new Benaroya Hall location; $50,000 to the Northwest African American Museum (Seattle, Wash.) to develop a strategic marketing and outreach program to promote the museum’s exhibits, membership and services; $50,000 to the Holter Museum of Art (Helena, Mont.) to support a two-year audience and resource development project that honors the military and veteran community in Helena and greater Montana; and $75,000 to the Alaska Native Heritage Center (Anchorage, Alaska) to support the commissioning and presentation of four culturally significant works honoring Alaskan Native heritage and culture.

“Our commitment to supporting the continued vitality of the local arts sector has not changed,” said Coliton. “Like other nonprofits, arts and culture groups are grappling with new economic realities. It is encouraging that attendance at local museums and performing arts organizations remains strong. Clearly, even in challenging times, audiences find value and meaning in the creative work being developed and presented in our communities.”

Launched by Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul G. Allen and Jo Lynn Allen in 1988, the Allen family’s philanthropy is dedicated to transforming lives and strengthening communities by fostering innovation, creating knowledge and promoting social progress. Mr. Allen has contributed $378 million to the Foundation since its inception, benefitting over 1,370 diverse nonprofit groups to support and advance their critical charitable endeavors in the Pacific Northwest. A complete list of the Foundation’s latest grants is found at www.pgafamilyfoundation.org/grantlist.

In King County Superior Court on Monday, 8 years was the sentence for a White Center man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of his wheelchair-using girlfriend – who died after he hit her. The full story’s at seattlepi.com.

From the King County Department of Transportation:

The King County Road Service Division will close the South Park Bridge spanning the Duwamish River to both vehicle and marine traffic from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily Saturday Jan. 30 through Tuesday, Feb. 2. The four-day closure will allow engineers to perform noise and water quality testing and simulate vibration that might occur during bridge construction. During the closure, engineers will conduct pile driving to measure noise, vibration and take water quality samples. Data collected during the tests will assist the county in planning for construction of a new bridge when financing becomes available. During the closure, motorists can detour via the First Avenue South Bridge.

(click lower left of image to play slideshow, which includes audio)
By NICK FELDMAN
UW News Lab

“It’s a picture of my son,” the man in the chair said in Spanish. “Enrique is his name. When I came to the United States, I left him when he was 2 months old. It’s to have him with me all the time, to have a memory of him, because I don’t know if I’ll be able to see him again.”

Francisco Antonio Flores-Renteria came to the U.S. three years ago. When looking for a place to have the portrait done — his second tattoo — he looked no further than Dzul Studio — a place that was clean, where he trusted the quality of the art, and where he was able to converse in his own language.

The studio, run by brothers Alejandro (“Alex”) and Jacob (“Smiley”) as well as piercing-artist sisters Catalina and Elizabeth, takes the family name to heart: Dzul is a Mayan word meaning master or leader, one who stands above others in character or reputation. And that reputation has been built up over the last decade.

“I started to draw at an early age,” said Smiley, “and my friends from my neighborhood knew that I knew how to draw, so they were the ones who actually got me into it.” He sports seven tattoos himself: on his legs, right arm, collarbone, each shoulder, and his mother’s name on his back — his first, at age 16. “That’s how I started, just doing names for (friends) and their mom’s names and initials.”

After four years of doing airbrush art at weekend swap meets and homemade tattoos for friends on the side — and discovering fairs like Bite of Seattle, Bumbershoot, Hempfest and Portland’s Cinco de Mayo celebration — the brothers had amassed enough capital to open a studio.

“When we first moved out to the Northwest, there wasn’t a lot of art put out with our perspective or flavor,” said Alex. “We’re from the Southwest, and when we came in there were a lot of people who wanted art but they weren’t getting it. That’s one of the places where we come in and really shine, because we have a very unique style.”

Smiley, the studio’s resident tattoo expert, is a master of the more urban black-and-gray tattoo style, but is also a talented tribal and color artist. About 80 percent of the art done at Dzul is original, and while the brothers have “flash” designs premade — reusable and template art — they’ve found that people are more interested in art that speaks directly to them, and that both parties are often more excited to do unique work.

While the Dzuls cater to their culture, only 30 percent to 40 percent of their clientele is Hispanic. Instead, they draw on the many ethnic and age demographics that tattoo culture has infiltrated, as well as their clients from places as far away as Everett and Vancouver, B.C., who travel specifically to visit the White Center studio.

“A lot of people who speak Spanish feel good to be understood, but the population in Seattle is not heavily Hispanic,” said Alex. “We’re really pretty diverse when it comes to who walks through our doors. “

The siblings, all Queen Anne residents, are currently looking to either move or expand to a location somewhere closer to the center of Seattle. One of their main reasons for originally choosing the shop’s location was its affordability for young artist-entrepreneurs.

In addition to massive updates to the studio’s Web site — including an education-focused FAQ section — within the next year, Dzul also plans to launch a clothing line and sponsor an art exhibition with a Day of the Dead theme featuring original art, tattooing and photography.

“People come through, they get their work, it’s original,” said Alex. “They have a perspective and we just help them to make it look good. I thought it would be good to do portraits of them and their tattoos to tell their stories.”

In the words of Alex, who studied graphic design at the Art Institute of Seattle, artists always need a community of other people who share their passion. And, luckily for these four siblings, that artistic community is also blood.

“If there’s anyone you can trust the most,” Smiley said, “it’s your family.”

——————————————————————————————–
(NICK FELDMAN is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.)

White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition chair Sean Healy sends a reminder of the group’s next meeting – coming up in less than a week. As his note points out, the group’s gone through some changes; no official Seattle Neighborhood Group staffers now, so it’s entirely volunteer-run – executive committee members Healy, Angela Rambo and Barbara Liberache are in charge. The meeting location is new, too – instead of St. James Place, you’ll find the coalition at DSHS offices, 9650 15th SW (map). Regular meeting time/location remains 6 pm, fourth Thursday of the month – that’s next Thursday 1/28, and everybody’s welcome.

The topic of White Center annexation came up when we covered a brownbag lunch meeting with Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden at the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce offices today. WS business lawyer Jerome O. Cohen (at left with Godden) opened the subject by nothing that the WS Chamber, where he leads the board of directors, is trying to build stronger ties with White Center. Godden described WC as a “lively area” and mentioned a recent visit to Salvadorean Bakery. She then recalled last year’s vote in which a majority of councilmembers voted not to approve the Memorandum of Understanding that had been worked out by then-Mayor Greg Nickels as well as other parties interested in the area, giving Seattle a certain period for first right of refusal on White Center annexation. “I don’t often brag about the 8-1 votes where I’m the 1 – and there are few,” she said, indicating that one, in which she supported approving the MOU, was different – she believes her fellow councilmembers were trying to send a message, but not the one that she thinks the rest of the world drew from what happened. She says it’s up to new Mayor Mike McGinn, as well as the people of White Center, to indicate they would like to talk about annexation, but notes the legislation is still in effect with the tax changes Seattle wanted and needed for annexation to be possible. One sticking point right now, she indicated, is the South Park Bridge – if Seattle annexed all the unincorporated area to its immediate south, the bridge would become the city’s $110 million problem. But federal help might be on the way, she noted. (She is vice chair of the council’s Transportation Committee, now chaired by West Seattle’s Tom Rasmussen.) Overall, she said, White Center “seems like something that ought to be part of the city” – provided its residents agree.

From South End Neighbors for Peace:

Is military escalation the path to peace? What would victory in Afghanistan, look like? Come find out why one brave woman is stepping up her work educating Afghan boys and girls. Find out what she thinks of the troop surge. Julia Bolz will update us and show slides of the schools she’s built, the charming kids who attend them, and the village elders who work with her in rural Afghanistan. Friday evening at 7, January 22, at Saint Francis Parish Hall, on 152nd Street and 21st Avenue in Burien. Enter parking lot from 20th Ave. Refreshments will be served, and there’ll be a bake sale. More items for bake sale are welcome! (come early)…and bring ball-point pens, which are hard to get in Afghanistan, for us to mail to students there. Learn more about Julia’s work and how you can get involved: www.aynieducation.org. Donations are tax-deductible.

Contact: Annie Phillips, 206-275-1393
Sponsored by Southend Neighbors for Peace, and St Francis of Assisi Parish Social Justice