White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Christmas Trees are being sold to benefit The Cross Church and their ministries. They are selling trees at their church on 102nd st across from the log cabin and at Bernie Boys on 1st.

Well, anything wintry, at least, for starters. Here’s the news release we received late this afternoon:

After more than a week of bitterly cold temperatures in King County, there are two questions on everyone’s mind: when will it warm up; and will it snow?

Crews from the King County Road Services Division and King County Metro Transit are watching the forecasts and getting ready for whatever weather may blow in over the weekend and early next week.

Road Division staff has been on weather patrol for weeks, looking for icy roads and other driving hazards. There weren’t too many problems during the past week when temperatures dipped, because there was very little moisture in the air to turn into ice. That could change if the humidity increases or precipitation moves in, and the mercury doesn’t rise.

Today, the crews have installed snow plows and sanders onto trucks and received bulk deliveries of salt. Staff will be out over the weekend in key locations of unincorporated King County laying down anti-icing materials on the roads, and plowing snow if necessary.

For Metro Transit, preparation so far this fall/winter season has focused on helping bus riders stay in touch with disruptions in transit service.

Last month, Metro debuted a new system of alerts and online info to help customers be “in the know” when it snows, or when transit service is disrupted by other significant events. The new Metro Alerts Center webpage (www.kingcounty.gov/metro/alerts) displays route-specific disruptions. And, you can sign up to receive email or text messages about widespread service disruptions or weather events impacting your individual bus routes.

Today, Metro launched a new Twitter page (www.twitter.com/kcmetrobus) to help distribute that information. When snow is on the way or on the ground, Metro will use Twitter to point followers to the changing info in the Alerts Center and phone lines. Metro tweeters will watch what Twitter users are saying and pass along any useful information to the Metro operations staff. And, they will tweet tips to help people make travel plans.

The Road Division staff has also enhanced the online Road Alert website (www.kingcounty.gov/roadalert) to reflect both King County and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) road closures. During times of adverse weather, the online map and email alerts are a valuable tool for motorists traveling in unincorporated areas of the county.

The forecast for this weekend has been changing a lot over the past 24 hours, but both Metro and the Roads Divisions have their operations staff ready deal with ice or snow.

Based on lessons learned last winter, Metro has revised and simplified snow routes and has closely coordinated with other public works and transportation agencies to make sure bus routes are identified as priorities for plowing and sanding.

The Road Division has worked with the state and several local cities to develop a snow route map that prioritizes snow and ice removal on major arterials, public and school bus routes, emergency corridors leading to hospitals, and access to highways.

It was something of the passing of the torch at Thursday night’s meeting of the White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition, as the last Seattle Neighborhood Group staffer assigned to the group, Karen Greene, honored its volunteer leaders – with days to go before her job ends. (WIth Karen in the photo is Sean Healy, just elected chair of the coalition’s Executive Committee.) Karen’s job is ending because the grant that funded it is expiring. The WCSDCSC has long had grant funding as a “Weed and Seed Area,” while struggling to leave behind a raucous, dangerous past. Now, there’s consensus the area is getting safer, and crime is dropping. At Thursday night’s meeting, King County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Hancock recalled something he’d said to the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council recently, that an entire month’s crime report these days doesn’t even contain the volume of violence and serious crime that they would once see just in a weekend.

Before Deputy Hancock presented his crime report at the start of the meeting, Acting Sgt. Adonis Topacio of the Seattle Police Department‘s Southwest Precinct Community Police Team gave his update for the South Delridge side of the area. All categories of property crime were up, he said — “Seems to be the trend this time of year.” In terms of major incidents, he only recalled one – a robbery attempt at Cafe Tam Tranh on the south end of Delridge, in which somebody tried to steal a game machine bolted to the floor – then swung a knife at the manager; he said the cafe had been “hit several times in the last few years.” His stats covered the six weeks since the last meeting of the group and listed 24 car prowls in the South Delridge area, up 11; 5 “auto accessories” thefts, up 3; 3 license-plate thefts (up 2); 14 auto thefts (up 4); 14 burglaries (up 5).

His words of advice for residents to protect themselves from crime: Don’t leave anything in your car. Meantime, he also noted that the Community Police Team has two vacancies at the moment; one of the key team members is about to deploy to Iraq. But A/Sgt. Topacio says he’s hopeful that replacements will be on the way next month.

Then Deputy Hancock took over with his update. While property crime in White Center is low, he said – no commercial burglaries in the past month, and just one residential break-in – he noted four major incidents (the following is a transcription from what he handed out to attendees at the meeting, minus the report numbers):

Assault Aggravated Felony
Club Evolucion – There was a large gang-related fight in front of the club. Two Deputies working off duty were assaulted by three suspects. All three suspects were arrested the following week for assault 3.

Robbery
McLendon’s
A shoplift turned into a robbery when the suspect produced a knife and attempted to stab the store manager. The manager was not hurt and the suspect fled the scene. The robbery is currently under investigation.

Chase Bank/SW 100th 17th SW
One suspect armed with a handgun. Currently under investigation.

SW Roxbury 28th SW – Gas station
Armed robbery/currently under investigation.

Dates for those incidents weren’t given. The one-sheet from Deputy Hancock also listed 10 drug arrests, 20 warrant arrests, 3 vehicle thefts and 1 vehicle prowl for the month (described as 11/03 through 12/02).

More quick topics from the meeting: Asked about the effects of the county budget on storefront operations, Deputy Hancock said the White Center storefront has been saved, but “Boulevard Park will be incorporated into Burien” …
State Liquor Control Board agents briefed the meeting saying they hadn’t noticed violations at some of the establishments they’ve checked, but there is a “stipulated agreement” with a grocery store where there had been some concerns. …. The timetable for completion of Burien’s annexation of “North Highline South” may still be delayed while the City of Burien and King County hash out the future of Puget Sound Park … Chances are strong the coalition will meet in a new location in the new year – probably the DSHS building across from the White Center Bartell Drugs … Attendees were asked to fill out a form inquiring about their strengths and interests, as part of a community-building exercise … The artwork for Steve Cox Memorial Park is finally about to get under way, now that a contract has been signed …

And before the meeting ended, final words from Karen Greene: “The change (in the area) is really something to be proud of. This meeting is a real strength for the community, a real resource.”

They usually meet late in the month, but since that doesn’t work well around Thanksgiving/Christmas time, the White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition is meeting tonight at 6 pm, at a different location than usual – Wiley Center at Greenbridge, 9800 8th SW, Room 104 (map). The meeting announcement notes that the “room is on the southwest corner of the building; it faces the Greenbridge plaza open space.”

News release received Wednesday night from Highline Public Schools:

Highline Public Schools has refinanced 2002 bonds, resulting in a savings to taxpayers of more than $8 million over the next five years.

The savings flow directly to taxpayers through reduced tax levies. The dollars cannot be used for District expenses. “This is a direct savings to our community members in the form of taxes they expected to pay, but will not have to pay,” says Superintendent John Welch.

The District was able to exceed its savings target because of recent low interest rates. Interest rates averaged 6.31% on the new bonds compared to 5.33% on the old debt.

After the refinance, Moody’s Investment Services reaffirmed the district’s Aa3 bond rating on the district’s outstanding debt. The rating reflects the district’s satisfactory financial operations and its manageable debt levels. The district has a AA- rating from Standard and Poor’s.

The Highline School Board approved the issuance of refunding bonds at its December 9 meeting. The original bonds funded the replacement of ten aging schools, which opened beginning in 2004.

If you haven’t become a fan of White Center Jubilee Days on Facebook already, now’s a good time – that’s where they are asking people to post suggested themes for this year. The contest is open for another week. One nominated theme posted today – “Embrace Our Differences.” (Last year’s theme was “Living the Dream.”)

The Lakewood officers’ memorial is happening this afternoon – live on just about every local TV channel and website.

ORIGINAL 12:53 AM REPORT: Seattle City Light confirms 1,900 “customers” (homes and businesses) are without power in parts of Highland Park and White Center, as of about half an hour ago. (Lights flickered in parts of West Seattle around the same time the power went out to the south.) No word yet on the cause or how soon it’ll be restored. 4:27 AM UPDATE: City Light says everyone’s back on, and says a “cable failure” was to blame.

Shelli Park sends word that the White Center for the Arts meeting’s been changed to December 16, still at 7 pm at Dubsea Coffee, and invites those with interests in culture and history to join, as well as those with interest in art.

White Center Community Development Association is promising to send updates via Twitter – you can see them by going here. It’s under way till 4 pm at Mount View Elementary.

We caught up with Rat City Rags during the West Seattle Art Walk in September, when their work was featured at Ventana Construction. Tonight, you can see, buy, mingle and drink during RCR’s first holiday party, happening 5-10 pm at Big Al Brewing!