November 2016

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."

The 4th Annual White Center Food Bank Dinner and Auction is set to feed and please attendees on Nov. 18 at the White Center Eagles 10452 15th Ave SW

Cocktails start at 3pm and dinner is served at 5pm.

The cost is $15 per person for dinner and tickets are sold at the door.

Following dinner the silent AND live auction will start at 7pm and Boneyard will provide the live music starting at 8:30pm.

This event sponsored by The Live Butcher which is a family owned and operated full service meat counter, featuring high quality meats and custom cuts in White Center. They are located at 9432 16th Ave SW | Seattle, WA 98106 | 206-762-MEAT.

By SBA Regional Administrator Calvin Goings

An increasingly popular tradition sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday continues to gain momentum and benefit local businesses in Ballard.

Falling on Nov. 26 this year, Small Business Saturday is a day to support the small businesses that ignite our local economies and enrich our communities.

Why It Is So Important to #ShopSmall

Small business owners and Main Street businesses create two out of every three new private-sector jobs in America, helping spur economic development in communities like Ballard and giving millions of families and individuals the opportunity to achieve the American dream.

According to American Express and the National Federation of Independent Business, 95 million Small Business Saturday shoppers spent an average of $170 last year. This gave an overall $16.2 billion boost to Main Street merchants and small businesses. This year, we’d like to see 100 million shoppers in neighborhoods across the nation.

2016 was a busy year for the Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association with a flurry of activities, including a trip to Bergen, the 17th of May at Bergen Place, the annual Edvard Grieg Gala at Ballard First Lutheran Church, and the Seattle Sister Cities Reception at Seattle City Hall. The gift of 100 ceramic flowers from the City of Bergen and its Flora Metamophicae artists also lent itself to multiple exhibits, including a window display at Secret Garden Books, the National Sons of Norway Convention in Tacoma, and then again at City Hall. As the year draws to a close, the sister city group again focuses its attention on Ballard for the month of December.
The association’s connection to Ballard has always been a strong one, with deep ties in the Norwegian immigrant community, the Bergen Place Park commemorative mural, and cooperative work with other Nordic organizations. Over the years, many members have been neighborhood residents, as does the association’s current vice president, Bernice Chouery.

A 3-story seven unit townhouse building at 1706 Alki Ave SW has been approved by the Seattle DPD. Parking for ten vehicles will be provided. Existing structures will be demolished. Alki Courtyard Townhomes is being developed by Kelten Johnson of JOHNSON & CARR, LLC in Seattle.

From the DPD decision:
The project involves the construction of two, three-story townhouse structures (for a total of seven units) in an environmentally critical area. Parking for ten vehicles will be located in attached garages and at grade. Access is proposed from Alki Ave SW, at the northwestern corner of the site.

The rear proposed structure would be located within the steep slope buffer. The proposed development would disturb 68% of the steep slope buffer.

Pursuant to SMC 25.09.180, 25.09.080 and 25.09.320, the proposal is required to comply with ECA requirements for steep slopes and potential landslide areas.
Steep slope critical areas (SMC 25.09.180)

Hundreds of activists gathered in the parking lot of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hiram M. Chittenden Locks facility in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle last night for a vigil to show support for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and their opposition to the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline through North and South Dakota.

The demonstration was part of activist action in at least 300 cities around the globe against the pipeline, and many of the protests were held at Army Corps sites.

Organizers of the demonstration reported the protest was to “call on President Obama to instruct the Army Corps of Engineers to deny final permits for the Dakota Access Pipe Line (DAPL).”

information from South Seattle College

Each year, the Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle College holds a big Fall Release party where we feature our newest vintages of student-created wine. This year’s event runs November 17, 18 and 19 from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm each day, with complimentary tastings during those times.

There is no cost for admission, and bottles of wine are available for purchase. Highlights this year include a 2015 Chardonnay, 2015 Reserve Chardonnay, 2014 Merlot and 2014 Well Read Blend.

Parking is free in the north parking lot of South Seattle College, where the Northwest Wine Academy is located. Campus map located at http://www.southseattle.edu/documents/maps/Campus-RSB.pdf

*Parents are welcome to bring their kids!

Update: 2:10pm

SPD confirmed earlier this morning that what was reported to be a drug operation in the building was not actually a lab and the white powder found at the scene was not a narcotic.

"After an extensive investigation, no narcotics or public safety risk found during yesterday's investigation," wrote SPD.

Update 3:45pm
The initial security sweep of the area around 907 NW Ballard Way has been completed by Seattle Fire hazmat teams and wrap up operations are taking place. A one block area around the site has been cordoned off for safety reasons.

Original Post
A large scale haz-mat response took place near 11th Ave NW and NW 46th one block off the Burke Gilman Trail around 9:30am with both Seattle Police and Fire units coming to the scene.

Initial reports indicated that it was a potential drug lab of some kind but officials were waiting for further information before releasing a statement.