November 2016

A new sculpture at Junction Plaza Park was dedicated in a special ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 20.

Created by local artist Troy Pillow, the sculpture took about a month create he said and is called "Transpose". It is a kinetic sculpture in that the 'branches' of the tree form it is, move with the wind. The idea was to create a piece of sculpture that was representative of the West Seattle Junction, being the main hub of West Seattle, the constant movement. The spokes are constantly in motion, the paths crisscrossing."

Pillow has been an artist for more than 20 years.

It's a durable structure he said, "Those bearings are rated to go 10,000 RPM's for years. They are double sealed stainless steel ball bearings."

The groups behind making the sculpture a reality are according to the West Seattle Junction Merchants Association, JuNO, The Junction Association, Department of Neighborhoods, and Seattle Parks. The total cost was $50,000 with $25,000 from Blue Star and a matching $25,000 grant through the Department of Neighborhoods.

A serious two car motor vehicle incident around 9:15pm on the Ballard Bridge Saturday Nov. 19 sent three people to the hospital.

One person had to be extricated from the wrecked car by Seattle Fire Dept. emergency crew members.
The incident closed the bridge in both directions as crews worked to rescue the trapped person.

Seattle Police were investigating the matter.

The Bridge remained closed most of the night as an investigation was conducted.

By Conrad Wesselhoeft

"Well, it's official!" said Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski, at the end of Saturday's service installing her as Fauntleroy UCC Church's new senior pastor. "It's hard to get rid of me now."

Bilinski was installed by a delegation of clergy from the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ. About 200 church members attended the ceremony.

Bilinski has served as Fauntleroy's "unofficial" senior pastor for about a year. She becomes the twelfth person in the church's 108-year history to hold the senior leadership role. It was most recently held by Rev. David Kratz, who retired in 2013 after 27 years as senior pastor.

"We're delighted to welcome Fauntleroy's new pastor," said Eric Wetzel, a church member who headed the search committee. "We're excited to welcome a great leader to our community."

The 300-member Fauntleroy UCC Church abides by the credo: "Whoever you are, and wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here."

By Greg Whittaker

West Seattle is experiencing a baby boom. Everywhere you look you new families are out and about experiencing all that we have to offer. Our family has joined the West Seattle Soccer Club and it seems to be a good indicator of just how many kids are here, during the last 2 years the league has had a hard time getting coaches for all the 5-6 year old teams that are up and coming, and it seems there is a very young boom happening.

So, these tips are for those of you who have little ones that are now out of diapers and ready to get up into the mountains. If you are new to skiing, introducing your kids into it can get you into a new lifetime sport. Having had a bit of experience with others and my own children, I have some great tips to help you make it worth your while as well as your kids while to get out and enjoy yourself in the mountains.

By Lindsay Peyton

Earlier in the week, students across Seattle walked out of their classrooms to protest the election of President-Elect Donald Trump.

A group from Pathfinder K-8 School piled across the bridge crossing Delridge Way SW, near Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. They carried signs in support of diversity, Planned Parenthood and love – and a number of drivers honked and waved in approval.

In response to media requests for more information, Luke Duecy, spokesman for Seattle Public Schools, said the students will receive unexcused absences for leaving campus.

He sent a statement that read:

“While the protests are not sanctioned by the district, Seattle Public School students do have the right to peacefully demonstrate and express their personal views . . . As a district we are responding to the requests and needs of our community and many schools are developing lessons and activities to have appropriate, post-election conversations in school buildings.”
 

Computer programming, just those two words can make many people's eyes glaze over since the automatic assumption is that it's an activity that is too difficult for the average person.

Not only is that not true but as the founder of Code.org, Hadi Partovi said "People think computer programming is such a complex process or like learning to speak French but really there are only about fifty words in most of these languages that you have to learn to code. Then it's just a matter of learning sequences and how they work."

To bring more attention to computer programming Partovi and Code.org brought former Seattle Seahawk and current Denver Broncos football star Rusell Okung to Highline High School to take part in an "Hour of Code" a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in more than 180 countries.

Shelby's Bistro and Ice Creamery in the West Seattle Junction is hosting a series of school fundraising events.
The restaurant will donate 10% of all sales from 2pm to 9pm on the following dates:
Fairmount Park Elementary Tuesday, Nov 22nd

Genesee Elementary Tuesday, Nov 29th

Alki Elementary Wednesday, Nov 30th

Denny Middle School Tuesday, Dec 6th

Our Lady of Guadalupe Tuesday, Dec 13th

West Seattle High School - sophomore class Wednesday, Dec 14th

My restaurant hours for these events is 2-9 pm.

Shelby's is located at 4752 California Ave SW.

I would like to issue with clarity my regret after reading in Thursday's Seattle Times Seattle Colleges' position on the AFT contract for faculty compensation.

As a student, as a valued customer since 2012 who has purchased education from two other Washington state colleges, I insist that you accept in their entirety the terms proposed by Washington AFT in this round of negotiations and prepare to do so in future negotiations.

I was not able to attend my 2 pm Landscape Design class in good conscience as I am a state employee myself under a collective bargaining agreement with Public Schools. My class meets two evenings, and it's been keeping me busy. The Times article was unfortunately the first I'd heard of the contract negotiations.

I passed groups of educators picketing outside North Seattle CC today while driving between public K-12 schools I maintain as a staff gardener. In a state and city such as ours it is disconcerting any of them should need to lay a hand on a picket sign. I mistakenly thought the impact of their work in our communities is valued more than that.

ArtsWest Theater briefly became ARRRRRRTsWest theater on Nov. 17 as the Seafair Pirates made a special pre-show appearance on the opening night of Peter and the Starcatcher.

They were mostly well behaved but did offer at least one of their famous sea shanty's, and of course chatted with every woman they could.

The Pirates, normally seen in the summer when they invade Alki Beach and appear in numerous parades around the region made a special exception to help launch the Peter Pan themed play.

The play will be presented Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m.
*Run time – 2hrs. 15 mins | 1 intermission

Tickets
Adults – $39.50
Seniors – $35 – 65+
Students – $19 – with valid school ID

Tickets are available online.
https://artswest.secure.force.com/ticket

Faculty members of South Seattle College, supported by students, staged a walkout demonstration on Nov. 17 to highlight stalled labor negotiations. Led by teacher Michael Hickey approximately 200 people gathered on the campus outside Olympic Hall to voice their concerns. Hickey said, "After 22 sessions the other side has not budged at all. The hallmark of contract negotiations in terms of collective bargaining is to bargain in good faith and they are not bargaining in good faith. They've drawn a line in the sand and they are not going to budge. They've got 12 million dollars sitting in a reserve fund and they are only offering us 3 million over 3 years which is basically a 3% increase they've offered for full time faculty and a 0% increase for part time faculty. Of the 33 Community and Technical colleges in this state our full time faculty is 14th. Yet the cost of living in Seattle is significantly higher than anywhere else. It's not sustainable. We can't afford to live in this community anymore."