White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Looking out the window of the Cafe watching cars struggling in the snow and sludge.  Here’s some tips.  If you get stuck in a snow bank and your wheels are spinning, keep in mind that you are lacking traction.  Spinning your wheels will only make matters worse.  Rock the car back and forth – drive and reverse, drive and reverse.  Eventually, your wheels should get some traction and pull you out of the snow bank.  You can also take out the car’s mats and use them behind the wheels, but most times this only sends the mats flying around the wheel.

If your car starts to skid, DO NOT slam on the brakes.  Keep cool and steer towards the skid.  Feather the brakes, so that they start engaging.  It’s counterintuitive, especially if you are skidding towards a car, but it’s the best way to regain control of the car.

If you are going up a hill and your wheels start to spin, give it up.  Unless you have four wheel drive and/or chains, you are not going to make it up the incline.  Put your flashers and back down the hill in reverse.  Back around and find another way, preferably an arterial that has been cleared and sanded.

Do not follow too closely.  This should be obvious, but the number of people tailgating never ceases to amaze me.

Drive at an even clip.  Do not start or stop too fast.  If you are moving, your wheels will find traction even if you slip a bit.  Drive with your lights on and slow down if you see oncoming traffic or pedestrians.  Anticipating a problem will avoid it.

And most importantly, I don’t care if you have a four wheel drive with snow tires and chains, do not drive like an idiot.  Maybe you can move in the snow but that car crossing in the intersection may not be able to stop.  If you are driving too fast, four wheel drive will not help you.  Don’t drive like an idiot.  Be smart and stay safe.

Here’s the official overview.

5:54 AM: The route status page was updated just a few minutes ago.

6:33 AM: The King County closures list is updated – parks and pools including Steve Cox Park and Evergreen Pool remain closed.

We don’t normally, but it seems like one of the first nicer days that we have had. Come play some pinball and have some hot cocoa and free wifi.

Although most of the details of the proposed agreement between Seattle and Burien for the proposed annexation have been covered in this blog as well as our partner, West Seattle Blog, the Seattle Times has a good article in today’s edition.  Per the article:

North Highline, one of the largest urban parts of King County that isn’t in a city, could be split between Seattle and Burien if the two city councils and voters decide that’s a good idea.

Seattle would become the local government for White Center and neighboring communities in the northern portion of North Highline, and Burien would absorb Boulevard Park and other neighborhoods in the southern part. An estimated 33,400 residents would be affected.

The proposed boundary, tentatively agreed to this month by Seattle and Burien, would run mostly along South and Southwest 112th and 116th streets. The agreement defines how much territory each of the cities could annex through the end of 2011. After that, all bets are off.

Feel free to leave your thoughts, but as always, be civil (and rational).  Thanks.

On this snowy and cold Monday morning, Cafe Rozella is open.  Dropy by for your Mexican Mocha and shake off the cabin fever.

11:20 AM UPDATE: Got another note from Rick, who says they’ve gotten LOTS of help thanks to folks who read about this on WCN and/or partner site West Seattle Blog. However, we have another request in the WSB Forums for some White Center area volunteer help – read about it here.

ORIGINAL 6:21 AM POST: From White Center Food Bank executive director Rick Jump:

The White Center Food Bank has 300 families scheduled to pick up their holiday baskets on Monday and another 300 scheduled for Tuesday. Our plan is to be open for those with appointments but I will probably need some additional volunteers to make this happen. A few of our loyal volunteers showed up last Friday and we served 144 families (out of the 300 scheduled that day). We will be open from 10am to 6pm. If there is anybody who lives within walking distance of the food bank OR has a 4 wheel drive vehicle and can safely get there we would greatly appreciate the extra help. I will also need help shoveling the sidewalks and part of the parking lot to make it safe for those who show up. Please help spread the word.

WCFB is at 10829 8th SW; here’s a map.

(photo courtesy Alison – tend to your downspouts and storm drains when you can; eventually this will all melt)
Road/bus stories to share? Please add them in comments. Meantime, as of 4 am, Metro resumed updating its list of routes that are “suspended” and/or rerouted; see that (long) list here. Also, here’s the list of county road closures. Also note, Sound Transit has suspended 560 service between Burien and West Seattle; service alerts here.

9:41 AM UPDATE: If you have business to do in Burien, city hall is open limited hours today (more at rpin.org)

Two weeks ago tonight, White Center Now brought you first word of the annexation-process agreement between Seattle, Burien, and other parties, minutes after it was announced by Burien city manager Mike Martin during a council session. 2 weeks later, it has finally appeared in a citywide newspaper.

Known closures for Monday are now listed here – including Steve Cox Park and Evergreen Pool. More as we get it.

Just in from King County:

Fewer King County residents than expected are struggling with
weather-related impacts today as the overnight storm packed less of a
punch than forecast. The weather along with staffing and preparations by
King County departments and regional partners combined to help keep
people moving and safe overnight.

King County’s Department of Transportation sanding crews are working
around the clock to keep county roads clear in unincorporated areas.
They’ve deployed 27 trucks with a plow in front and sander on the back,
two plows, nine graders for pushing snow off roadways, and nine
anti-icer trucks.

Metro Transit is operating approximately half of its normal bus service
today. Riders should check the Metro Online website at
www.kingcounty.gov/metro to see if their bus route is operating and if
it is on snow routing; and note that travel conditions can change
quickly so the list of disrupted service may be revised at any time due
to weather and road conditions.

Metro is running Access vans on life-sustaining routes for established
riders.

Metro also helped keep thousands of cars off the roads today by running
its Seahawks shuttle service today to Qwest Field from Eastgate
Park-and-Ride in Bellevue, Northgate Park-and-Ride in North Seattle, and
the South Kirkland Park-and-Ride. Fans should expect crowded conditions
on the shuttles, and should give themselves plenty of time to get to the
game because the buses may be delayed by road and traffic conditions.

Public Health – Seattle & King County has conducted extensive outreach
on the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, including contacts with
over 200 retail locations including pharmacies, grocery stores, gas
stations, hardware stores, with many agreeing to post warning pictograms
in multiple languages in their facilities. In addition, over 200 health
care and community-based organizations received carbon monoxide
information for dissemination with their clients. The posters and other
information about carbon monoxide poisoning, including symptoms and
prevention tips, are available online (
www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/disaster/ca
rbon-monoxide-english.aspx).
King County has closed its Factoria Transfer Station in Bellevue and its
Cedar Falls Drop Box in North Bend indefinitely today. The county’s
Houghton Transfer Station in Kirkland was already closed.

All other solid waste transfer facilities are operating normally for
now, but could be closed early due to continuing severe winter weather
conditions. Customers should visit the King County Solid Waste Division
Web site for updates before getting on the road (
your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/facilities/transfer.asp).

Considering the widespread snow and wind that pushed through the region,
relatively few residents are facing power outages and Puget Sound Energy
has been able to quickly restore most customers who lost power over the
last 24 hours. Roughly 50 PSE customers scattered throughout King County
are without power.

Although the winter storm warning for the Tacoma/Seattle/Everett Metro
Area has been cancelled, another weather system is expected to bring a
trace to two inches of snow around 2 pm today.

Right now a number of businesses are open in White Center, including Walgreens, Bartell, Pho 88, El Paisano, Taqueria Guaymas, Center Tool Rentals and, of course, Cafe Rozella.   If I have not included your business send me a message or call (206) 763-5805.

A fresh layer of heavy snow coming down.  There is a icy sugar glaze over last night’s snow.  Could be very trecharous so be careful.  Share your pictures.

Come on in for warmth, coffee and conversation.

Some info:

King County road reports can be found here — nothing listed in White Center as of this writing late Saturday night, but there is one in Boulevard Park.

Driving to the airport? A reader tells us Highway 509 is OK but Highway 518 is treacherous. More airport info here (the cell-phone lot is closed).

It’s coming down and the roads are already slicker.  Time to go home.

Hungry for some real burgers and fries?  Zippy’s is open and will stay open till about 7:30.  Fear not foodies.

Just started falling. Info updates re: roads etc. as we get them, as it intensifies. Got pix/info? Leave comments and/or send to the White Center Now team at whitecenternow@gmail.com – thanks!

Lines stretching all the way through the store reported by sister site, West Seattle Blog.  Probably a combination of Christmas shopping (before storm) and storm preparations – bet they are sold out of flashlight, batteries and candles.  Alternatives in White Center:  Walgreens, Bartells and McLendon’s.

As promised, we are open today (Saturday) so if you are suffering cabin fever come on down for a bagel and coffee.

Snow, wind, then eventually rain, the forecasters say it’s all on the way. But first: Thanks to Alison for sharing some photos from earlier in the week – first, sledders at Lakewood Park:

And from her neighborhood, where 12th and 114th SW became “packed snow over ice” before long:

Stay safe – we’ll bring you information as we get it!