Around the Island

July 4 really starts on July 3, with the 22nd annual July Third Street Dance and BBQ, sponsored by the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association.

Dance this July Third away

July 4 really starts on July 3, with the 22nd annual July Third Street Dance and BBQ, sponsored by the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association.

With face painting, food, live music and more inflatable rides than you can shake a stick at, Winslow Way rarely sees so much densely packed evening action.

The party runs from 6-11 p.m. along Winslow Way. Highlights include music by perennial faves The Original Fenderskirts; a children’s craft tent; and inflatable rides for children plus face painting, sidewalk chalk, a dress-up photo booth and a climbing wall.

Cotton candy, shaved ice and barbecue will be on offer; also returning is the Winslow Oasis, where adults can enjoy a glass of wine or frosty beer.

Tickets – required currency – are $1 a pop. Winslow Way will close from Ericksen to Madison starting at 3 p.m. July 3 and will remain closed until 8 p.m. July 4.

For more information, call the Downtown Association at 842-2982 or visit www.bainbridgedowntown.org.

Driver pleads guilty to DUI |UPDATED

Kitsap County prosecutors say they dropped a hit-and-run charge against the Poulsbo woman who drove over a Bainbridge bicyclist in April because she had been given permission to leave the scene by a 911 dispatcher.

Georgia Leigh Zimmerman, 23, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and assault in the fourth degree in Kitsap Superior Court on June 20, for an April 8 incident in which Zimmerman’s full-sized truck collided with 60-year-old cyclist Mark Seawell at the intersection of State Route 305 and Hidden Cove Road. Seawell suffered a concussion, scrapes and bruises.

Zimmerman was arraigned April 9 under a charge of hit and run for leaving the scene of the collision. But prosecutor Jennine Conca said that charge was dismissed because it was determined from a recording of a 911 call Zimmerman made from the scene, that she was given permission to leave the scene by a dispatcher.

However, in a recording of the four-minute-long 911 call, acquired from Kitsap County Central Communications, the dispatcher can be heard telling Zimmerman she can hang up her phone, with clear instructions to stay at the scene and speak to a police officer.

Zimmerman was arrested by Bainbridge Police north of the Agate Pass bridge following the collision. Her blood alcohol content was found to be higher than .15, court documents said; the legal limit is .08.

Seawell was found unconscious next to his bicycle. A wheel of Zimmerman’s truck had rolled over his head, shattering his bicycle helmet. Seawell was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center.

According to court documents, Zimmerman will serve a 20-day jail term and will undergo treatment for alcoholism. She will be under supervised probation for five years, with an ignition interlock required for her to operate a vehicle.

–Tad Sooter

Raccoons invade yards

The recent spate of warm weather may be welcome news not only for berry farmers, but for island raccoons as well.

According to staff at the West Sound Wildlife shelter, unusually cold weather this spring has depleted natural food sources for raccoons, causing the animals to become aggressive in their search for a meal.

Shelter staff say there has been a dramatic spike in complaints related to belligerent raccoons invading yards and homes over the last month. Shelter wildlife specialist Mike Pratt advises residents to not feed the animals, and to be patient while stocks of berries and insects are replenished by warmer temperatures.

“It is sad to see the hungry raccoons, but this is a natural process that will thin the weak from the population,” Pratt said. “Feeding raccoons will cause more problems for both you and your neighbors, such as attracting unwanted wildlife like bears and coyotes and encouraging raccoons to be less and less scared of humans.”

Pratt advised residents to remove all food sources that attract raccoons and other wildlife, including compost piles, bird feeders, outdoor pet foods and open trash cans. He also suggested storing unused barbecue grills.

In some cases, residents may need to make loud noises to scare raccoons away, Pratt said.

He said owners of small pets should be vigilant, because other wildlife, such as bears, eagles, coyote, fox and weasels may also be hungry.

Questions and reports of wildlife problems can be directed to the West Sound Wildlife Shelter at 855-9057 or the regional office of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife at (360) 249-4628.