November 2021

Pat's View: Be a better journalist

By Patrick Robinson

Most people are not journalists and don’t really understand what that designation means or what straight ahead news journalism requires. I’m distinguishing it from advocacy journalism, opinion journalism, and any writing that takes a politically driven side. To be a journalist in the long held and widely understood definition, is to learn about facts, events, policies, studies, and more in as unbiased a way as possible then using objectivity as the guiding principle, relate those facts in a story so as to communicate them clearly.

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Hometown Holidays kicks off in earnest Dec. 4 in the West Seattle Junction
Small Business Saturday is Nov. 27, Shop Late Thursday is Dec. 2, Junction Tree lighting and Night Market is Dec. 4

The West Seattle Junction is the heart of the West Seattle community, known for bringing the joy of the season to you. 

Hometown Holidays is a month-long celebration everyone loves, and in 2021 the Junction will keep to the theme of Hometown Holidays merry and bright! 

Come to the Holiday Night Market and Tree Lighting on Saturday, December 4th, from 3 PM to 7 PM on SW Alaska Street, where you’ll find local handmade goods from over 40 local artisans. Get your picture with Santa too! Watch for Santa 4 PM to 7 PM in the Holiday Night Market Santa House. Make an ornament to hang on the tree to show holiday spirit the entire community can enjoy! 

Enjoy a full stage show this year hosted by Elvis! There will be a whole lotta jingly shakin' going on!

Here's the next four events:

Sat, Nov 27 Small Business Saturday

Thurs, Dec 2 Shop Late Thursday

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Lora Radford departing as Executive Director for WS Junction Association
Will join Sound Transit as a community liason

By Patrick Robinson

The West Seattle Junction is getting a heart transplant, of sorts, as the Executive Director of the West Seattle Junction Association (WSJA) Lora Radford, is leaving the job after six years. She has chosen not to name her replacement for now but she only has a few more weeks in the role. She is not going far, opting to work for Sound Transit as a community liason person helping the agency talk to the community about all the work required to get light rail into West Seattle before its 2035 arrival. Her last day is Nov. 17.

To say her time in the Junction job has been transformative is an understatement. The WSJA was formed in 1987 as a Business Improvement Area (BIA) whose mission is to preserve parking and promote the business interests of the Junction. But there's a lot more to it.

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Seattle Public Schools closed Nov. 11-12 due to staffing shortage

Seattle Public Schools announced online and in a letter to parents today that due to staffing shortages there will be no school on Thursday, Nov. 11 (for Veterans Day) and Friday Nov. 12.

Seattle Public Schools will be closed on Thursday, November 11 and Friday, November 12.

As part of our effort to ensure the highest quality environment for student learning, all SPS schools will be closed Friday, November 12. There will be no in-person or remote instruction on this day. We are aware of a larger than normal number of SPS staff taking leave on Friday, and do not believe we have adequate personnel to open schools.

This is a change from the 2021-22 calendar of school year dates approved last spring, and we recognize the late notice creates challenging circumstances for many families.

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UPDATE: Power back on in central West Seattle

Update 2:30pm

Aside from some minor pocket outages around the area, power is restored in the West Seattle Junction and elsewhere. A perisistent outage in Ballard was continuing with 188 out along Ballard Ave NW from Dock Street NW to Market Street. Restoration was not expected before 5pm.

Update 11:05am

Power was still out for 826 customers of City Light in central West Seattle including the east side of the West Seattle Junction as crews worked to get it back on. City Light said the cause was a tree downed by  high winds. Their estimated time of restoration at 11am had slipped however. Five more were out east of Delridge Way SW. with a 2pm restoration estimate. Meanwhile up north near the Maple Leaf neighborhood more than 2000 were still out.

Original Post

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Local legends Brent Amaker and the Rodeo going on tour but first, a party
West coast tour with Grammy winners The Mavericks; Party with the band at the Yen Wor

West Seattle resident Brent Amaker is departing for a string of West Coast tour dates with his band Brent Amaker and the Rodeo as opener for Grammy winners, the Mavericks.  

All of the 1200 seat theater shows are sold out.   The first of the dates will happen this coming Sunday at the legendary Flilmore Theatre in San Francisco.   

Before hitting the road, The Rodeo is planning a surprise kick off party on Wednesday November 10 at the Yen Wor.  The event is free (with a suggested donation) and open to the public.  

Karaoke will be hosted by Loretta from 7-10PM followed by a performance by Brent Amaker and the Rodeo.   

The last time Brent Amaker and the Rodeo appeared in West Seattle was when they lit the streets with lasers as the headliners at West Seattle Summerfest in 2017.  This event is 21 + and proof of vaccination will be required.
 

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