Share your love and knowledge of our island community with kayakers, day sailors and visiting yachts this summer. A new information kiosk is coming to the city dock and the Harbor Commission is looking for volunteers to welcome arriving boats and distribute information.

We also need more Harbor Stewards around the island. Stewards in the summer greet boaters, answer questions and guide visitors. During the winter they watch for boats taking on water, dragging anchor and help in an emergency. Stewards are also advocates for the community and provide valuable input on navigation and shared uses in their local harbors.

Harbor Commission volunteers, Harbor Stewards and involved citizens have helped bring resolution to a number of harbor issues this year. A legal live aboard community is now established in Eagle Harbor saving our waterborne residents from DNR eviction.

The long-contested waterfront parcel adjoining the ferry maintenance facility has been resolved. Not everyone agreed with loss of a potential boatyard but $2 million from WSF is now available for boating infrastructure and other capital improvements. And over 400 applications have been received under the buoy amnesty program to get moorings permitted and to stop boats being abandoned here.

Please consider getting involved with our harbors by volunteering. If you would like to welcome boats at the city dock or serve as a Harbor Steward contact the Harbormaster, Tami Allen at 780-3733.

Ross West, chair

Harbor Commission

Police chief

Proposed forums should be public, not private

It is inspiring that the police chief is interested in soliciting feedback from the community.

We suggest that a public forum be held rather than private/group sessions at the police station.

After all, that is common practice for most public entities and is of course a much more efficient use of Mr. Fehlman’s time.

Andy and Charlotte Rovelstad

Bainbridge Island