Kingston • Eglon • Hansville • Indianola • Little Boston • Port Gamble
COMMUNITY NEWS Vol. 32 No. 6 • June
KingstonCommunityNews.com
2015
Film project is ‘More Than a Feeling’ for students By MICHELLE BEAHM
mbeahm@soundpublishing.com
KINGSTON — Kingston High School seniors Nick Woltersdorf and Conner Erickson have spent the last year producing a feature-length, coming-of-age
movie called “More Than a Feeling,” following teenagers in the final days of their final high school summer break. Erickson said the teenagers, in several different social groups, “each have
different ideas of how they can make the most of these last three days.” Woltersdorf said, “We tried to incorporate the themes of freedom, friendship and coming of age.” The pair said it was
something they could easily relate to, as the summer they spent filming the movie was their final high school summer break, and came about when they decided they needed something to do throughout the
summer. “We went from the point of, I actually wasn’t sure if we’d get anything off the ground, to being almost done,” Erickson said. “It’s exciting.” The film, titled “More
Than a Feeling,” included about 30 speaking roles and 15-20 crew member roles, each filled with the pair’s friends and peers. The movie was filmed entirely in Kitsap County, mostly in See FILM, Page 3
Teacher protests continue in Washington Ceremony NKSD educators walk kicks off out and rally on May 18 construction By MICHELLE BEAHM
mbeahm@soundpublishing.com
POULSBO — “Hey, hey, what do we say? Full funding, don’t delay!” So went the rally cry on May 18 as North Kitsap teachers staged a walkout to protest the state Legislature’s failure to fully fund education or provide teachers across the state with cost-of-living wage increases. Nearly 60 school districts in Washington have staged, or will stage, walkouts. Protests started April 22 with the Lakewood, Stanwood-Camano and Arlington school districts, after legislators considered an 11-percent raise for themselves. That raise was approved. “We’re supporting our entire state (with the protest),” Poulsbo Elementary School teacher Kjersti Johnson said. “It’s us supporting each other. No teacher gets into the job for anything other than their love for children and their wanting to see them succeed in life, and in the classroom. So we’re not only supporting North Kitsap, we’re supporting the entire state of Washington, and all the educators that do what we do every single day.” Six years ago, the state Supreme Court found the Legislature in violation of the state’s Constitution for failing to fully fund education. Since then, legislators have failed to comply with a court’s order to fully fund education. Voters also have approved ballot measures for cost of living increases for teachers and for smaller class
Work on ‘inspirational’ community center begins By MICHELLE BEAHM
mbeahm@soundpublishing.com
North Kitsap teachers gathered at 7:30 a.m. May 18, standing at the corner of Highway 305 and Hostmark Street, with signs stating “Honk for Education” and “On Strike 4 Kids.” Michelle Beahm / Kingston Community News sizes, with no more than 17 students in grades K-3, and no more than 20 students in grades 4-12.
“Our cost-of-living increases, smaller See WALKOUT, Page 16
INSIDE SPRING SPORTS: IT WAS A FINE SEASON FOR THE KINGSTON BUCCANEERS — Page 14-15
KINGSTON — People gathered May 3 at the Village Green to see the start of the community center/library project. Some had been working toward this day for more than a decade, weaving a complex web of support that involved numerous donors and state, county and local agencies. “We have clung to the promise that this day will arrive,” Village Green Parks District Commissioner Bobbie Moore said. Construction has finally started on the community center, which, in less than a year, will be home to a senior center, a Boys & Girls Club and a new Kitsap Regional Library branch. Rotary Club president Clint Boxman said the effort started as a vision for “a major park and a better community center.” Since 2001, there have been many fundraisers, surveys and public meetings to support the idea, he said. Since its inception, a park has been built on the Village Green property, and officials such as Rep. Sherry Appleton, Sen. Christine Rolfes, County Commissioner Rob Gelder and Rep. Derek Kilmer have championed the project by helping to raise funds through government grants, as well as raising awareness about the efforts. See CENTER, Page 18
ECRWSS POSTAL CUSTOMER Kingston Community News 19351 8th Ave. NE, Ste. 106 Poulsbo, WA 98370
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID KINGSTON WA PERMIT No. 22