Meeting for the first time at Vietnamese restaurant Pho My Loi just off 106th s.w. the White Center Chamber of Commerce meeting for Feb. 14 the organization took care of the vote for new board members (installation is March 13) and announced some good news about efforts to improve White Center's public image.

A so far anonymous grantor has made available $10,000 for the development of a new website for the community WhiteCenter.com which will be developed by Kathi Wheeler of Noise Without Sound Design. The new site will include a full business directory, possibly coupon offers for local merchants and will be developed over the next few months beginning in March and going live this summer.

Pharin Kong and Sopha Danh of the Cambodian Cultural Alliance spoke about the upcoming New Year Street Festival scheduled for April 28 (10:30 to 5:00) and said they are seeking sponsors to make the festival successful. You can learn more about their efforts at www.camculture.org or by calling Sopha at 206-861-2898. Last years event saw more than 1200 people enjoy food, music and dancing in the middle of White Center celebrating Cambodian culture.

The recent White Center Homeless, Chronic Alcoholic Community Summit was reviewed by Chamber President Mark Ufkes and by White Center Storefront Deputy B.J. Myers. They spoke about the four general strategies the summit drafted.

1. Law enforcement contribution

• Emphasis on outreach to property owners to participate in the "No Trespassing" program through the King County Sheriff's office.
• Open container/public consumption enforcement and arrest
• Public intoxication enforcement and arrest
• Stronger Washington State Liquor Control Board monitoring of vendors in apparent violation who sell illegally to the target population
• Greater refuse and littering enforcement

2. Business community contribution

• "Good neighbor alcohol sales agreement"
• "We support responsible alcohol sales" signage participation
• Continued sponsorship of alcohol impact inventories
• Maintain and keep business properties clean and participate in the "No Trespassing" program
• Vendors inform the WSCLB of participation in the community good neighbor agreement program
• Support installation of public toilet/sanitation and clean up of business district camp sites

Ufkes spoke about the upcoming CDA Spring Clean Event set for May 19th and urged people in the area to communicate about projects for the volunteers since last year more than 100 volunteers were told to go home, there weren't projects for them. He's asking for the public to suggest buildings to be painted, lots to be cleaned up or other suggestions where people power can make the difference.

You can contact him at markufkes@comcast.net .