White Center Now: The blog about White Center

It’s a springtime tradition in White Center – the Cambodian New Year Street Festival in White Center, presented by the Cambodian Cultural Alliance of Washington. It’s happening today (Saturday, April 30th), 10:30 am-5 pm on SW 98th, between 15th and 16th. Admission is free and a big schedule of music, dancing, and other entertainment is planned. Here’s the schedule, from CCAW’s Facebook page:

See you there!

Announced by the King County Library System:

Have a mobile device, but no Internet access away from home? KCLS can help!

Beginning May 3, patrons can check out mobile hotspot devices from six King County Library System locations in a new pilot project funded by the KCLS Foundation. For the next six months, the Boulevard Park, Burien, Foster, Greenbridge, Valley View, and White Center libraries will offer WiFi hotspots for 28-day check outs, including cellular service by AT&T. Approximately 200 units will be used during the pilot program. These tools enable Internet access on the go, from any place within range of AT&T mobile service.

The hotspots are free of charge, with a few special rules:

*They cannot be put on hold
*First come, first served
*They must be checked out and returned in person to one of the participating libraries
*28-day checkouts with no renewals
*Internet access will be disabled at the end of the 28th day
*10¢ per day fine for late returns, and replacement costs will be charged for lost devices
*The device containers will include operating instructions in several languages, and each hotspot can connect up to 10 devices at a time. A troubleshooting number for patrons to contact AT&T for any assistance needed. KCLS staff will not provide tech support for these items.

To learn more, search the KCLS Catalog for “KCLS Hotspot” at kcls.org.

If you’re interested in the campaign to turn the Evergreen Campus back into Evergreen High School, you’ll want to know about a doubleheader meeting there tomorrow – a school board work session on “small schools,” 5-6 pm, followed by a community meeting at 6. Full details here.

Bryan Hastings from Evergreen Community Aquatic Center says April Pool’s Day this past Saturday brought “a fantastic showing”: About 100 kids! The day included a special check presentation for a grant that will make water-safety learning affordable for even more – he shared the photo and the official news release:

Every day, about ten people die from unintentional drowning, according to
the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger. Drowning
ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States. On April Pool’s
Day, State Representative Joe Fitzgibbon, joined Amerigroup Washington as they presented a $7,000 check to Evergreen Community Aquatic Center to increase the number of swimming lessons for about 1,500 underserved children in the Puget Sound area.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support and partnership of Amerigroup Washington, because without their support Evergreen Community Aquatic Center would not be able to impact so many underserved kids and teens this year,” said Bryan Hastings, White Water Aquatics Management Board President. “With this grant, we hope to continue to provide much needed swimming instruction and water safety programming to kids who need it most.”

As summer approaches, the number of local youth visiting a local pool or (body of water) will also increase.

Thanks to the donation from Amerigroup Washington, Evergreen Community Aquatic Center will be able
to provide life-saving instruction for more children across King County. Swimming lessons empower
youth to be well prepared for emergency water situations. The swimming instruction provided at the
Center also provides training on how to properly wear a life jacket and teaches each participant with
rescue skills that will enable them to swim their way to safety should they experience an unexpected

“Swimming enables kids and teens to stay active and physically fit. That’s why we support Evergreen
Community Aquatic Center, to help ensure that our youth build life-long healthy habits with a strong
understanding in water-safety,” said Daryl Edmonds, president of Amerigroup Washington. “The
Evergreen Community Aquatic Center is working to build secure futures for our local youth by helping
them stay safe while participating in healthy water activities.”

State Representative Joe Fitzgibbon attended the April Pool’s Day event, where Evergreen
Community Aquatic Center and Amerigroup Washington celebrated the joy of swim by providing water
safety activities and free swim time for local families and community members. The Center raffled off
free life jackets, free swimming lessons and other door prizes.

For more information about water safety and how you, or someone you know, can sign up for reduced-
priced swimming lessons, call (206) 588-2297.

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

Discussions are under way about a possible development at the county-owned site at 8th SW/SW 108th that includes the White Center Food Bank and a former health clinic, according to the head of one of the agencies involved in those discussions.

Steve Daschle, executive director of West Seattle-based Southwest Youth and Family Services, mentioned this while speaking Wednesday night to the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council, a monthly meeting we routinely cover for our partner site WSB. He said, “It’s still very conceptual right now, and we’ll be coming back for community support. … We’re hopeful we can pull together the resources to build some housing at that site.” He acknowledged there might be community concerns too, “but I think we’re going to have to try to overcome their concerns by suggesting that housing is never a bad thing.”

If you’ve only seen the 1961-built offices on the site, you might wonder if it’s big enough for a mixed-use project, but county records show it includes open space that Daschle describe as “trees behind (the building).” Before mentioning the project, he had been telling DNDC members – from community councils and other organizations in eastern West Seattle – that SWYFS has found itself providing services further and further south in King County, as the people it serves move that way.

We’ll be following up this week to see if we can find out more.

Thanks to Gill for the photo and tip: He checked in on the new C & T Asian Market, on the 16th/17th/100th triangle site that formerly held Phnom Khiev Market, and tells WCN they’re expecting to open tomorrow (Saturday, April 23rd).

(Also published on partner site West Seattle Blog)

Tonight we know the locations where King County Elections is proposing to add more than three dozen fixed ballot dropboxes, including White Center, West Seattle, and South Park this year; Boulevard Park might get one next year. Read the full news release here.

Toplines for our area:

In White Center, the dropbox would be at the White Center Library (the address listed in the county report is for the current one on 16th, though the new one on SW 107th is scheduled to open soon, so we’ll be doublechecking on that tomorrow). West Seattle’s location would be the High Point Library. The South Park Library is proposed for a dropbox by the November general election. And the Boulevard Park Library could get one next year.

A 132-page report including how and why these locations (and the others around the county) were chosen – and why some other locations were not chosen – can be seen here.

The county says it will spend $239,695 to have the boxes made, wrapped, and installed. Assuming approval is received from the King County Council and all property owners, this would put 91.5% of the county’s population within three miles of a dropbox, the county says. A public hearing is planned before the County Council’s Government Accountability and Oversight Committee at 9:30 am Tuesday, April 26th, in the council chambers downtown.

The current WC Library used to have a dropbox, but since its removal, the county has only sent a temporary van to Greenbridge for a few of the final days before each election.

From books to scoops! Seattle’s legendary librarian Nancy Pearl is scooping a special flavor at Full Tilt Ice Cream until at least 3:30 pm, as the first chapter in Full Tilt’s series of special one-week-only scoop-shop flavors honoring local icons, to “pay homage to the people, places and events that have made Seattle the amazing place that it is.” Hers is peanut butter with a fudge swirl, and she’s opening the series in part because it’s National Library Week! We were there around 2:30 and the shop was wall-to-wall with fans.

Part of the proceeds, FT says, are going to the White Center Library Guild, which will soon be supporting this brand-new branch:

FT says future icons will include “Mudhoney, the Space Needle, Richard Hugo, Sub Pop, Frances Farmer, Easy Street Records, and August Wilson.” Stay tuned for dates, and flavors!

(King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks photos)

White Center Heights Park was the scene of a big event at midday today – King County Executive Dow Constantine, King County Council chair Joe McDermott, students from WCH Elementary, and other community members gathered to plant a little tree symbolizing something big. Here’s the county announcement:

A small Douglas fir planted in White Center Heights Park signaled the start of a multi-year partnership led by King County Executive Dow Constantine to plant one million trees countywide by 2020 – an initiative to confront carbon pollution while improving the health of natural habitats and neighborhoods across the county.

“By mobilizing the community to plant one million trees across King County, we will reduce carbon pollution and produce healthier forests, streams and neighborhoods,” said Executive Constantine. “It’s an ambitious project – one that will help ensure our region remains a national leader in the effort to confront climate change.”

Executive Constantine was joined at the kickoff of the One Million Trees campaign by leaders from Forterra, The Nature Conservancy, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, The Nature Consortium, and The Boeing Co. – each of whom have committed to planting trees and expanding the partnership.

The event served as an invitation for community groups, schools, nonprofits, tribes, local businesses, donors, volunteers, residents, cities and other public agencies across King County to participate in the initiative.

Planting one million trees by 2020 is a target action in King County’s 2015 Strategic Climate Action Plan, a road map for how King County will reduce carbon pollution, increase transit, protect open spaces, and prepare communities for the impacts of a changing climate.

The positive impact that trees can have on air and water quality is particularly noticeable in this region. A recent U.S. Forest Service study on the role of forests in combatting climate change revealed that, acre for acre, native Pacific Northwest temperate forests store more carbon than forestland found nearly anywhere else in the world.

Earlier this year, Earth Day Network launched a global campaign to plant 7.8 billion trees worldwide, one for every person on the planet, by April 22, 2020 – the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.

From the 7th District U.S. House campaign of State Sen. Pramila Jayapal, which says it’s NOT a fundraiser (we don’t promote political fundraisers), just a meet-and-greet:

What: Latinxs Organizing Party with Pramila Jayapal

When: Thursday, April 14th at 6-8 pm

Where: Salvadorean Bakery & Restaurant, 1719 SW Roxbury

Join us as we organize for Pramila for Congress. Good food, music, and good company while we learn how to get involved. Everyone is welcome!

Sen. Jayapal is one of the candidates running to succeed U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Seattle), who announced he would not run for re-election.

Happening today!

You’re invited to West Seattle/White Center Vietnamese Community Tea Time meeting at Greenbridge Community Center, on the second and last Wednesday of the month from 1:00 pm–3:00 pm. Please come to meet with friends, exchange information, storytelling, entertainment, singing, and planning for the future meetings.

We can help with language support (translation/interpreter) or settle the bills such as electricity, water, cable TV, internet.

Hosted by Tram Chung, a family support worker serving Vietnamese elders and caregivers in West Seattle, White Center, Burien, and South King County.

The center is at 9800 8th SW.

Just announced:

One week from Saturday – see you there!

(WCN photo, March 31st)

3:25 PM: New information today in the 15th/Roxbury gas-station mini-mart shooting we covered last Thursday night:

King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West says both suspects are now in custody, arrested last weekend in Federal Way, a 26-year-old woman and 24-year-old man, both from Seattle. We don’t know how the victim – shot in the leg – is doing, but his wound was not considered life-threatening. Investigators say the man had gone to the mini-mart to buy beer and that he was shot after a man and woman tried to take it from him.

10:29 PM: Going through jail records, we’ve found one suspect’s name, and subsequent research reveals she is already charged in the case. Prosecutors allege that 26-year-old Marcy Goodnow is the one who approached the victim as he left the mini-mart last Thursday night, demanding he give her the $18 he was holding as well as the beer he had just bought. She pulled out a gun, court documents say, and the victim “swatted it away.” That’s when her male accomplice – not named in the court documents we’ve found – walked up and said something about “his woman”; she subsequently told the victim she was not kidding, and demanded the money again. He said “no,” she counted to three and shot him in the leg at close range. She and her unnamed male accomplice ran away, court documents say; she was arrested last Saturday in Federal Way for alleged robbery and assault, and two days later, a detective questioned her in connection with what’s only described as “a series of Seattle robberies and shootings.” She is in jail in lieu of half a million dollars bail and may face more charges. Prosecutors say her criminal history includes five assault convictions, two drug convictions, plus convictions on charges including auto theft, car prowl, and theft.

ADDED FRIDAY: The Seattle Times identifies the male suspect as Shane Atolio and says the two were arrested “after a 9-day crime spree.”

This Thursday night (April 7th) at 7 pm, the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council invites you to be part of its monthly meeting at NH Fire District HQ in White Center. Here’s the announcement:

Plan on joining us for this important and informative community meeting when we will be hosting:

Robin Hill, On-Site Septic System Program Manager with Seattle and King County Public Health.

Ms. Hill will provide information regarding issues related to septic systems in our community and beyond – as well as changes and charges that will impact all homeowners who are septic systems throughout King County in both the cities and unincorporated areas.

We are also pleased to be hosting Sarah Dahl – concerned mother, Highline School District taxpayer, advocate for students and a member of One Evergreen – who will be presenting information regarding the grassroots efforts to insure that the young people of North Highline are treated equitably and receive the educational opportunities they deserve (more information can be found at evergreensuccess.org/small-schools/#segregation).

Our White Center Storefront Deputy, Bill Kennamer, will be on hand to provide updates on crime stats and general community safety concerns.

Please see our website for the agenda: www.northhighlineuac.org

The fire station is at 1243 SW 112th.

We noticed recently that the Charlie’s Buns eatery space next to Pho Tai at 16th/98th was up for sale already, just months after opening – and as of last week, it’s closed. Today, we know who’s moving in: Bok a Bok, promising “Korean fried chicken and biscuits.” We contacted its proprietor, Chef Brian O’Connor, after seeing food writer Allecia Vermillion‘s report on his plans for two restaurants in White Center. At the time of her story, he had just signed a lease for Bok a Bok but wasn’t disclosing the location yet; we contacted him to follow up, and he confirmed to WCN today that it’s the ex-Charlie’s space.

Chef O’Connor has a background with a variety of well-regarded Seattle restaurant enterprises, including Skillet, and along with Bok A Bok is planning to open – somewhere in WC – Same Same Noodle Bar. But he tells us today that “for now we are going to focus on getting Bok a Bok open and operating while we continue to work toward securing a lease for Same Same Noodle Bar.”

11:38 PM: Deputies are looking for a man and woman in connection with a shooting at 15th and Roxbury. One person was shot – reportedly wounded in the leg – according to what we’ve heard so far. The two people being sought may have made their getaway by hailing a cab.

12:10 AM: The investigation is centered at the gas station on the southwest corner of 15th and Roxbury. Meantime, deputies found the cab they were looking for, at Westwood Village; it apparently had transported only one of the suspects, to an address outside West Seattle.

12:50 AM: Adding photos.

5:13 PM: Followup information just received from KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West: “The victim, a 52 year old Seattle man, went into a convenience store to buy a beer. When he exited the store he was approached by a man and woman who asked for his beer. He refused to give it to them. The female suspect asked the victim for his money and when he refused she shot him in the leg. Both suspects fled on foot. The only descriptions we have right now are a Hispanic male and Hispanic female. The victim was taken to Harborview.”

1:07 AM: Thanks to everybody who called/texted (206-293-6302) about the helicopter activity. Not enough discussion audible via scanner to figure out what they were doing while they were still in the are, but as usually is the case, the crew tweeted just after the incident ended (we did hear “They got the guy” on the local KCSO frequency): “Assisted White Center patrol on person with a gun call in 18 Ave SW. Led patrol in to person in front yard of house. Subject is detained.” We’ll follow up with KCSO later this morning.

ADDED 5:13 PM: Finally have those added details. From KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West: “Around midnight, we responded to the area of the 10400 block of 18 Ave SW for a report of a suicidal man who possibly had a gun. We contacted the man in the area and did not locate a gun. The man was transported to a hospital for a mental-health evaluation. The man is a 66 year old living in the vicinity.”

North Shorewood Park could use your help this Saturday, 10 am-2 pm – give a little time to do a lot of good. As neighbor Gill, who provided the photos, says, “It looks this good due to a great deal hard work on the part of King County Parks as well as volunteers from the neighborhood and local organizations. It really is a great little Park.”

The warm, dry weather is expected to continue into Saturday, so you have no excuse.

In our coverage of the March 17th annexation conversation at Dubsea Coffee, we mentioned a Seattle Channel crew was present. Here’s the result of their work: An episode of “City Inside/Out“ devoted to the annexation debate, hosted by Brian Callanan. The SC website lists the guests:

Bobby Beeman, President, White Center Chamber
Justin Cline, Owner, Full Tilt Ice Cream
Barbara Dobkin, President, North Highline Unincorporated Area Council
Joe Fitzgibbon, State Rep. (D-34th)
Sibelle Nguyen, Owner, Dubsea Coffee
Kenny Pittman, City of Seattle
Virginia San Pedro, White Center Better Life Nutrition
Sili Savusa, Executive Director, White Center Community Development Association
Kathy Snyder, White Center Resident

Its next cable airing, if you have the Seattle Channel, is 10 pm tonight.

The King County Sheriff’s Office Air Support division has published that video showing part of what it was doing late last night – we got texts asking why the helicopter was circling in the White Center area; what you see is the arrest of a suspect found in a stolen car along Myers Way, by the city/county border. After the car was pulled over by Seattle Police, the suspect fled, but was picked up by Guardian One’s FLIR tracking. We don’t know where the car was stolen from – still trying to match this to a specific case.