In a wide ranging White Center business district meeting on Monday June, 13 a group of about 25 gathered to talk about marijuana businesses in the neighborhood, the new promotional poster for the area, the potential for biking in White Center, planter boxes, and more.

Marijuana dispensary law discussed
Gail Stone, a Law and Justice Policy Advisor for King County Executive Dow Constantine came to say that the County really has nothing new to report at this time regarding marijuana dispensaries, two of which recently opened in the White Center Business District, and another at the corner of 35th and Roxbury inside the city limits. "We've had legal medical marijuana in Washington State since 1998. The legislature this year worked really hard to try and pass a bill that would set up some kind of regulatory scheme, that would make it safe for people to get their medical marijuana.When the Governor vetoed a bunch of sections of that bill and the legislature didn't leave any back up, it really has left local governments, city and county to 'how do we deal with this sort of mish mash law and regulation. We know that the current dispensary business models won't fit under the state law. So the citiy and the county have been working on what is the correct approach that's really going to serve the community. I don't have anything specific to report back to you yet." However, the new law goes into effect on July 22, and they are working on policies "meeting every other day" that make sense to the community.

She's seeking questions and comments from business owners and the public on the issue. You can reach her at gail.stone@kingcounty.gov.

Promotional poster revealed
Kathi Wheeler of Noise without Sound design spoke about the new logo, now seen in welcome signs around the area and it's integration into posters and other materials. She then introduced artist Terry Sargeant Peart who's painting of a basket being woven is the art on the new White Center promotional poster, pushing the theme "Growing a Global Village."

New logo discussed
Nahn Nguyen asked for ideas on how to promote the new logo. Ideas included, lapel pins, animations, email signatures, window decals, bumper stickers and on banners. On a side note he pointed out that there are now 57 light pole banners up in and around White Center, promoting the community.

Planter boxes proposed
A discussion of planter boxes was on the agenda and how to use a $500 grant that was in place. Suggestions ranged from asking businesses to adopt a planter box to building new ones (the former ones are in disrepair), and planting them with perennial edibles like Rosemary or Sage.

Business Resource Guide
Nguyen transitioned into the WCCDA's new Business Resource Guide, a proposed copy of which was passed around for review. The idea is to provide local businesses a handy guide to resources in the area such as local government offices, local media, and more. Those attending suggested that it be made available online, that it be formatted as a booklet, that it contain a directory of local trade services and be grouped by community service and commercial type.

Food guide for White Center
White Center Chamber of Commerce President Mark Ufkes mentioned in a follow on to Nguyen's comments that in a previous meeting with area business leaders and Robinson Newspapers the idea of a White Center Food Guide, proposed to appear in 2012 in both print and online could be 'teased' in the resource guide by offering a "Best Of" voting form on the back, the results of which would appear in the Food Guide. He also spoke briefly about the Chamber's Good Neighbor guide for businesses selling cheap powerful alcohol, urging them to use more discretion.

Biking in White Center promoted
Ellie White, local biking enthusiast, rose to promote the idea of bike shop in White Center. "There's bike shops all over town but there's no bike shop in White Center, White Center deserves a bike shop" she said. Failing that she urged area businesses to have a space available for area bike riders to repair their bikes. She passed out brochures from Feet First that detail the area paths and biking trails.

White Center Artwalk will feature a Film Festival
Amanda Kay Helmick spoke about this coming weekend White Center Artwalk and the three hour film festival that has been added for the first time. The festival will feature short films in three themed venues.

• Southgate Skating Rink (a family friendly program)
• Big Al’s Brewery (more edgy program)
• Full Tilt (more music filled program)

Luke Lemon, working with Metro talked about a promotional mailer coming to the area aimed at promoting greater mass transit ridership. The mailer will mention incentives for those that take fewer single person drives, primarily free rides on Metro.

Full Tilt celebrates three years- Donating a pint for each one sold
Rick Jump of White Center Food Bank closed the meeting by mentioning that on Monday June 20, Full Tilt Ice Cream will be celebrating their three year anniversary. "For every pint they sell that day they will donate a pint to the White Center Foodbank."