According to the King County Parks Dep., about 30 old and diseased poplar trees are being removed from Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center,with plans to replant new trees within the next few weeks.
King County is removing a long line of Lombardy Poplar trees along the southern edge of the park because the trees are in declining health. A local tree service company has been contracted to take the trees down, and Parks crews will re-plant the area with native spruce, fir and cedars.
The project is expected to be completed by mid-to late November with an estimated cost of $35,000.
More information on the tree removal project is available by contacting Jason Rich, capital project manager, at 206-263-7314, or via email at jason.rich@kingcounty.gov, or by visiting their website.
The tavern formerly known as the MVP Sports Bar, located on Ambaum Blvd. and SW 128th (near the border of the Dub-C and Burien), is now “Twigg’s,” complete with a new paint job and management.
It’s no secret that this building has had its share of troubles (a deadly shooting in May; and in its previous incarnation as the Flame Tavern, is where Ted Bundy met his only Burien-area victim, Brenda Ball).
However, we spoke with William, the new owner’s son, and he assured us they’re intent on cleaning it up. He mentioned an increase in security on weekends, along with new pool tables, TVs, event nights, renovations and more.
“We also haven’t had any problems in two months,” he remarked.
Let’s hope things continue to improve for this place.
For more information, visit the Twiggs MySpace page here.
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According to several news sources, a man was found shot to death in his car near SeaTac Airport early Monday morning.
The man, in his 30s, was found slumped over the wheel in a car near the intersection of International Blvd (aka Highway 99) and State Route 518 just after midnight.
The shooter remains at large.
Apaprently, SR-518 was closed down for a while as police dogs and a helicopter searched the area, causing backups for drivers headed to or from the area.
The name of the man who was killed has not been released.
SOURCES:
We’re happy to introduce onto the White Center Blog, like high octane injected into a finely tuned engine, our latest Advertiser: Mark’s Expert Auto Service!
It’s a family affair at Mark’s: Mark and Lisa Headley and son Nate. They know what they’re doing and are quite community involved.
Mark’s Expert Auto Service is located south of the Dub-C at 15418 Ambaum Blvd SW (see map below).
With 25 years of automotive work under his belt, Mark Headley has fully earned his slogan: “Experience. Not Experiments.”
Businesspeople and entrepreneurs: Mark’s happily handles fleet work. Call for details: 206-246-5232
Planning to drive to Grandma’s for Thanksgiving? Bring your vehicle in to Mark’s for an all-out winterization, or just a heater inspection and service.
Maybe there’s a shimmy or a “not-quite-right” sensation while coasting down the road. Could mean a wheel or two needs alignment.
Well, when we sent our White Center Blog writer, Scoop, to write the story you are reading right now, he was stunned by the high-tech modernness of Mark’s new state-of-the-art Wheel Alignment laser equipment.
“Can I just call it ‘amazing futuristic Star Trek-like equipment for the benefit of all your customers, now and in the future?’” Scoop asked Mark Headley.
“That’d be just fine,” Mark replied, thus simplifying Scoop’s journalistic assignment.
When your tabs are about to expire, keep in mind that Mark’s is an Authorized Emission Repair Facility.
Mark Headley believes in Experience, not experiments.
The Headleys have worked for years with local schools in mentoring young people on their way to becoming fully-trained and ready technicians in their own right.
Foreign or domestic, repair or preventative maintenance, us Dub-C Bloggers recommend Mark’s Expert Auto Service.
They’re just south of town on the east side of Ambaum at SW 152nd.
Hours: Monday through Friday 7:30am to 5:30pm.
Appointments welcomed.
Call 206-246-5232, or click on their Ad and check out their offerings – you’ll thank us later!
One week later, it is fully leased.
The new 82-unit, four-story apartment complex, which is located in the Greenbridge Community in White Center, offers residents spacious, light-filled apartments with well-appointed kitchens. Each apartment home comes with a patio or deck. The property also features a comfortable community room with a fireplace, a computer room with Internet access, raised bed gardens and a full-sized greenhouse. The building is completely smoke-free.
Nia sits on Eighth Avenue Southwest, the main street of the Greenbridge community. Retail businesses are planned for the first floor. Across the street, the YWCA will open a new adult learning center and the King County Public Library will open a new branch library in November. One block away, the Puget Sound Educational Service District will break ground next month on a Head Start facility to serve the neighborhood’s many young children.
“While we’re thrilled that this beautiful new property has proven so appealing, what this really speaks to is the need for more affordable housing for seniors in King County,” said King County Housing Authority Executive Director Stephen Norman. “In the current market, seniors who rely solely on Social Security must pay 80 percent of their monthly income to rent an average apartment. Without an increase in housing for poor elders on fixed incomes, this is a prescription for homelessness.”
The average annual income of the tenants at Nia is $10,200.
Using a conservative estimate, Aging and Disability Services and local government agencies project the number of seniors living in poverty in King County will increase to 22,076 in 2016, up from 16,825 in 2006. Currently, public housing and Section 8 subsidies support almost one half of the seniors in King County with incomes less than the 2008 federal poverty threshold ($10,400 for a household of one; $14,000 for a household of two people). To provide subsidized housing for this same percentage of the program’s low-income elderly households in 2016 would require that 2,491 additional public housing units or Section 8 vouchers be provided over the next eight years. Far fewer units are actually in the pipeline.
“The astonishingly quick lease-up action at Nia affirms the growing need for affordable housing for seniors and persons with disabilities,” said Norman. “They will come, if only we can build it.”
KCHA administers a range of quality affordable rental and homeownership programs for residents of King County. The Authority serves more than 18,000 families, elderly and disabled households on a daily basis.
That little speck up in the clouds is one of three local news helicopters hovering over the area to get a shot of the 'touch and go' third runway tests at SeaTac airport.
No need to panic just ‘cuz there are helicopters hovering over the area – no, it’s not the end of the world, it’s simply a major waste of precious fossil fuels being used up to fuel the local news cycle.
They’re all jockeying to get the best shot of the “touch and go” airplane tests at SeaTac Airport’s new third runway.
According to our friends at the KOMO Newsdesk, the copters must hover west of the airport for safety purposes, and since there are three of ‘em (at least that’s how many we counted) they have to spread out.
So stop worrying and get back to work, knowing that all is well (ahem, yeah right…) in your world.
Driving through the Dub-C this morning, we found this fascinating scene of nature vs man: a blackberry bush is growing through a traffic cone on the corner of SW 107th and 21st SW (possibly cultivated that way by a nearby resident):
The White Center Blog is proud to welcome its latest Advertiser to our brand spankin’ new property: IBuySeattleHomes.com!
IBuySeattleHomes.com is a locally-owned company that buys, fixes up and sells homes. It’s run by Brent Fosso, who was born and raised in Ballard, and now makes his home in West Seattle.
Brent has been buying, fixing and selling homes in the area since 1984.
“I’ve been drawn to real estate all of my life,” Brent remarked. “I used to help my Dad do remodel projects on weekends, and I think that’s when I got the bug for fixing things up. I guess fixing homes is some kind of ‘adult’ version of my childhood fun. Now I specialize in purchasing fixer uppers – I love turning something that is not very attractive into something beautiful.”
After college, Brent decided to finally listen to “that inner voice.” He always enjoyed the varied aspects of real estate, so he thought, why not buy a fixer upper?
After buying, fixing up and selling that first house in 1984, Brent was hooked. It was a pretty sorry looking West Seattle house, with no foundation, termite and carpenter ant damage, dry-rotted porches, animal odors, and siding that had not been painted in decades. Brent spent the entire summer working on it and was quite proud of his first remodel. The neighbors loved it. He then sold it to a nice family, and Brent got a lot of pleasure seeing buyers so happy with their new home.
Despite the national real estate down-turn, he is still buying, and likes the areas of White Center, Burien, West Seattle, and as far north as Ballard.
“I like the older neighborhoods” he adds.
There are many people who wish to avoid paying a realtor a commission, and since Brent is not a realtor, the sellers save that expense. Because of this, he does not purchase properties that are listed with real estate agents. He prefers to buy directly form the owner, and will usually not bother with getting a home inspection, because as he says “When I buy a fixer, I always figure on the home needing a lot of work.”
So…click on his Ad on our right sidebar, check out his website, and if you’re in the market to sell your home (no matter how bad its condition), please give him a call at (206) 935-5000.
(Want to Advertise on the White Center Blog, the only local blog to feature automatic translation to three languages? Click here!)
Just spoke with Julie Hubert of the historic Southgate Skate Center in White Center, and she informs us that the venue will be having a resurrection of sorts, being renamed the “Southgate Event Center” and holding a weekly “White Center Swap Meet” every weekend starting Oct. 4th.
Here are the details of the weekly Swap Meet:
- Every Sat. and Sun. beginning Oct. 4th
- Sat. hours are 1pm – 7pm
- Sun. hours are 10am – 4pm
- Cost is $40 per booth for vendors
- They still need a food vendor (hint hint)
- The former roller rink is undergoing renovations, including new bathrooms
- The old skating rink floor is still intact
The building has been in Julie’s family for over 70 years, with her Great Grandfather turning it into a roller rink from its former use as a boxing hall. It is currently owned by Tom Brown.
For more information, please visit the White Center Swap Meet website here.
If you’d like to become a vendor or would like more details, please call (206) 767-0224 or email southgateeventcenter@gmail.com.
Here’s some more pertinent info courtesy the Southgate Event Center’s website:
The Southgate Event Center is a 13,000 square foot facility that is available for events of all kinds! Conferences, large meetings, weddings, birthday parties, concerts, and more. Our unique philosophy is to allow the client to do as much of their event planning, set up, breakdown as they wish, to save them money, OR we can offer you a more full-service experience. You decide! We’re here to accomodate, whatever your preference and budget will allow.
Q: When can I book the event center?
A: The center is available Sunday – Friday evenings from 5:00pm – 12:00pm.
Q: What are the costs?
A: The flat fee to book the center is $500 plus a $250 refundable cleaning deposit which ensures you will leave it as you found it.
Q: What is included in the fee?
A: The event center is essentially a blank slate. Each event has custom needs in terms of set up, tables and chairs, linens, sound system and other rentals. It is our goal to keep the cost as low as possible so YOU, the client can choose how much or how little you wish to spend or do. We know that each event has different needs. A wedding may need tables & chairs but a concert does not. You don’t pay for what you don’t need. You are welcome to bring your own equipment or rent it. Or we can handle this for you – here are a few examples of what we can rent for you and the costs:
- Tables and folding chairs for all guests: $2.25 per person
- Chairs only for all guests: $1.25 per person
- Custom arrangement: Discuss with site event planner
Q: What kind of assistance do I have with planning my event and getting the rentals and equipment I need?
A: We have a professional event planner with more than 10 years experience that can advise you on what you will need for set up of the event you wish to hold. She will connect you with our preferred vendors, OR you may use your own. There is no charge for her recommendations and assistance. If you wish to have a full-service experience and event plan creation, there will be a $30 per hour charge, up to 5 hours max for virtually all events.
Q: What kind of assistance do I have with setting up, breaking down and running my event?
A: Each event will have an on-site attendant to unlock building, answer questions, field building related issues, inspect after clean up and lock-up. This is included in the rental price. ANY other set up, running of event, breakdown, or clean up is your responsibility UNLESS you wish to book those services with the sites event planner. We can offer these services for an additional cost.
Q: Can I use my own caterer and provide my own food?
A: Absolutely.
Everyone’s favorite, locally-named roller derby clan, the Rat City Roller Girls, have emerged victorious (by default) in a lawsuit over their logo filed by Starbucks.
According to the lawsuit, Starbucks believed that the RCRG logo was “too similar” to their logo.
This means that this ding-dang great logo:
Apparently does not infringe on this one:
Yeah Roller Girls – way to kick some corporate a**!
According to the Highline School District, its students far surpass other districts in signing up for state scholarships.
Hundreds of Highline middle school students have applied for the state College Bound Scholarship, which pays for four years of college tuition, fees, and books for students who stay in school, stay out of trouble, and keep their grades up. Low-income students and students in foster care are eligible for the scholarship.
Statewide, only 29% of eligible students have signed up for the scholarship since it was announced last spring.
In Highline, 71% of eligible students applied.
At Pacific Middle School, 95% of the eligible students sent in applications. Principal Cecilia Beaman says she talked about the scholarship with students and parents at every opportunity. “When a parent came in to talk to me, I signed them up on the spot. As I saw students in the halls, I talked with them, handed them an application, and then dogged them,” she says. Teachers and counselors talked with individual students. A language tutor worked with Latino families to sign students up. “It was a team effort, and we were tenacious,” says Beaman.
Sylvester Middle School signed up 167 students, 82% of those eligible. At both Chinook and Cascade middle schools, well over half of qualifying students applied for the scholarship.
“Getting students to apply was a big priority for us, because getting kids prepared for college is our focus as a school system,” says Highline Superintendent John Welch. “Finances are a barrier for many of our families who want to send their children to college. The College Bound Scholarship removes that barrier, so we work very hard to make sure all our families take advantage of this opportunity.”
When students apply for the scholarship, they pledge to keep their grades above 2.0 GPA, graduate from high school, and be law-abiding citizens. As long as they still meet income requirements at graduation they receive the scholarship, which can be used at any state college or university.
The King County Public Health Department announced that the new flu vaccine has arrived, which means it’s time to start planning on when and where to “get poked” in the White Center area.
Unlike a few years ago, this year there’s plenty of flu vaccine to go around.
Vaccination is recommended to protect people at high-risk for complications from the flu, including:
- Children aged six months until their 19th birthday
- Pregnant women
- People 50 years of age and older
- People, 6 months or older, with certain chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease (including asthma), kidney disease or diabetes
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
People who live with or care for those at high risk for health complications from flu should be vaccinated as well, including:
- Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
- Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age, who are too young to be vaccinated
- Healthcare workers
King County Health has created a website to help you find nearby flu shots (click here and enter your zip code on the right), but we’ve taken it one step further and created our own customized, interactive and regional “Places to Get Poked Map” – just click on a nearby pushpin, or use the zoom in (+) and out (-) controls on the left and you’ll see a listing of the store or pharmacy where you can get a flu shot:
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Found this impressive “speed video” of a local White Center artist named Wes doing his rendition of a “FOB”:
(for reference of what a “FOB” is, click here)
| Sep ’08 |
| 21 |
| 2:30 pm |
This Sunday, Sept. 21st, from 2:30-5:30pm, there is going to be a benefit party at Seattle Lutheran School in West Seattle (map below) for a sick little girl named Cora (photo at left), a pre-schooler who lives near White Center.
Cora was diagnosed with a Wilms Tumor, which is a cancerous tumor that blew out one of her kidneys. She had the tumor and the affected kidney removed in late June and has been having weekly chemotherapy treatments since. The prognosis is good, but she will get chemo through December to be certain they got all of the cancer.
The benefit is to help pay for Cora’s medical bills.
Cora, Cupcakes, a Clown, need we say more?
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 21st, from 2:30-5:30pm
WHERE: Seattle Lutheran High School Gymnasium, 4141 41st Ave SW
West Seattle, WA 98116
There will also be a silent auction with lots of tempting items, as well as “Team Cora” t-shirts for sale.
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At Monday night’s City of Burien meeting, a check for $250,000 was presented collectively to several Highline School District teachers (many of whom teach in the Dub-C) as part of the Housing Incentive Grant Program, which is a direct result of a settlement for the Lora Lake Apartments.
On hand were members of the Burien City Council, Highline School District, several teacher recipients, as well as House Speaker Frank Chopp and State Rep. Dave Upthegrove, both of whom were instrumental in getting the funding from the Port of Seattle and King County settlement.
The award enables Burien to provide the Highline School District money to attract teachers into hard-to-fill positions.
Prospective teachers are being offered $250 per month as a financial incentive to help with their housing costs in Burien.
| Sep ’08 |
| 25 |
| 4:00 pm |
Neighboring SeaTac Airport is holding an “Open House” to discuss the soon-to-be-activated and controversial third runway on Thursday, Sept. 25th from 4-7pm at Boulevard Park Presbyterian Church (map below).
While the airport isn’t in the Dub-C, its impact certainly affects the entire region, including the flight path over Boulevard Park.
From their press release:
Come learn more about Sea-Tac Airport ‘s soon-to-be-activated Third Runway. Experts, including Airport representatives from Noise Programs, Property Acquisition, Environmental Programs, Airport Jobs and the Federal Aviation Administration, will be on hand.
When: Thursday, September 25, drop in anytime between 4 and 7 p.m.
Where: Boulevard Park Presbyterian Church, 1822 S. 128th St., Seattle
Topics covered will include:
The-soon-to-be-activated Third Runway Efforts taken by the Airport to protect and enhance our environment Current and upcoming property acquisition and relocation projects The Airport’s Comprehensive Development Plan Job opportunities at the Airport Programs that reduce aircraft noise Development projects planned in the surrounding communities The Port’s new Office of Social Responsibility
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