Mmm…BBQ chicken. Yesterday, 1,000 youth, seniors, community members and organizations from White Center converged on Greenbridge’s plaza to participate in a “Feeding Washington” event for the White Center Food Bank. Besides the abundance of food (the aforementioned chicken, bread, corn, and potato salad), there was also entertainment and speeches from elected officials. Photo: Ian Dapiaoen.

Calling all local historians, both amateur and professional! Preservation 4Culture is embarking on a new project in partnership with the White Center Community Development Association to document the history of the Southgate Roller Rink and we are asking YOU to share your memories…

The Southgate Roller Rink served as a community gathering place - weekend hangout, family activity center, and sports arena - for over 70 years. It is a neighborhood fixture that helped put White Center on the map. Popular sports figures like boxers Al Hostak and Harry “The Kid” Matthews, wrestler Robin Reed, and most recently, the Rat City Roller Girls drew large crowds to White Center. The rink is probably best remembered by locals, however, for the hours they spent showing off their skating skills circling around the hardwood floor with their family members and/or sweethearts. We want to hear about those experiences!

Contact Flo Lentz at flo.lentz@4Culture.org or (206) 296-8682.

Image: © 1948, Courtesy of Washington State Archives, Puget Sound Regional Branch.

Source: 4Culture

Seattle writer Lee Bassett reads from his work at the Triangle Pub open mic poetry reading session in White Center to celebrate the book signing and reading of Frances McCue’s book, “The Car That Brought You Here Still Runs” . Photo: Kay Kirkpatrick

Non-members are also invited! If you are a member, bring a friend and learn more about the benefits of becoming a member. Thanks!

July 17^th, 6 PM - 9PM

White Center Third Saturday Art Walk

Dubsea Coffee (9910 8th Ave SW): Anne Jennings - photography. “A to Zambia“. The beautiful collection of photos Anne has chosen to share is a glimpse of her and her family’s life in Zambia.

Proletariat Pizza (9622-A 16th Avenue SW ): Grant Wilds - photography.  Lovely documentation of patterns of light and color in nature.

Salvadorean Bakery (1719 SW Roxbury): Madeline Cain - charcoal drawings.  A fascinating look into the mind of a twelve year-old girl with vision! Expect to be wowed.

Café Rozella (9434 Delridge Way SW): Patrick Cosman - ceramic sculpture. A nice show of smaller ceramic pieces.

Dzul Tattoo (9622-B 16^th Ave SW):  The Dzul Family - Tattoo, airbrush, cool urban art.  Check out the shop, get that long-desired tattoo!

Full Tilt Ice Cream (9629 16th Ave Sw): Justin Cline - Life as art. No really!  Still wonderful art on the walls, but it is the ICE CREAM!!!

Big Al Brewing (9832 14th Avenue SW): Paul Schlossman/ PAS - Drawings. The gist of Paul’s drawing is symoblism alternating with representationalism in pen and ink; in a process to revisualize places.

White Center for the Arts is a Partner Artist of Shunpike.

Best representing White Center’s vibrant and ethnically diverse business district, “Growing a Global Village” is the culmination of an exciting process led by the White Center Community Development Association and a Marketing Taskforce comprised of business owners and members of the White Center community. To preview the new brand and logo, please visit the White Center CDA Office at 1615 SW Cambridge Street starting July 6 through August 31, 2010.

The new brand thoughtfully incorporates both the uniqueness of White Center and the aspiration of more improvement still to come. “To me, the authenticity of the brand is what’s most important. In particular, the word ‘growing’ means there is an important and solid foundation from which to grow, expand and bloom,” said Aileen Balahadia, Executive Director of the White Center CDA.

“Growing a Global Village” portrays a picture of people from all corners of the world living and working side by side.  White Center embodies the aspirations and hard work of people, living the American Dream and creating a future for their families. “Just like a real global village, our business district has something for everyone and serves our diverse community very well” says Nicky Nguyen, owner of Banh 88 Restaurant in White Center.

A beautiful vibrant logo was created for the brand. “The colorful, organic rings represent the diverse community of White Center as it comes together to form unity. Different yet the same, the continuum of people and place…a moving-forward and in-motion neighborhood with vitality and conviction. The baskets, which are found in the center of our business district at 16^th & Roxbury are symbolic of something we all have and share in our various cultures,” wrote Kathi Wheeler, a White Center resident and brand graphic designer.

The White Center CDA would like to thank the White Center community, marketing consultants PRR and graphic design firm Noise without Sound, for their invaluable contribution to make this project possible. We’d like to acknowledge the White Center Chamber of Commerce for re-painting the five “Welcome to White Center” signs using our new brand color palette. The White Center CDA is looking forward to work with partners to promote and integrate our community brand and will soon make the brand available for web download by the community.

This photo was taken just this morning. Nice day (weather wise) for a bridge closure. There is a “wake” planned for the South Park Bridge tonight. For more info, click here.