The arts
BPA lauds Louise Mills
Bainbridge Performing Arts would like to congratulate Louise Mills on the success of her most recent production, “What is This Thing Called Love?”
We deeply value Louise’s commitment to the performing arts on Bainbridge Island. After all, as one of the founders of Bainbridge Performing Arts over 50 years ago, we would not be here without her! We will be forever grateful for Louise’s generosity in donating the profits of this production as a benefit for BPA.
“What is This Thing Called Love?” was an entertaining evening spent in Chez Louise, and the audience was very appreciative. We offer many thanks to the community for supporting this production, and our sincere gratitude to Louise Mills and director Michele McCrackin.
Bainbridge Performing Arts staff and board of directors
Serenity Court
Don’t let them take our house
We, the staff at Serenity Court (aka Serenity House), have been notified of the upcoming closure of “our” home. We’d like to know the REAL reason for the closing. We do not believe large group homes are outdated. We’ve taken care of our residents for more that two decades. And more than just caregivers, we care! They are our family members.
Many of us give our own time and are away from our own families to be here with our friends when needed. We are all devastated by the news that we are not only losing our jobs, but people that we truly care about will be split up and sent to other facilities. The residents are very upset and emotional about leaving their home, friends and community.
Many have called Serenity home for more than two decades. Many tears have been shed by all. We do not believe that this has to happen, but we need help in keeping this home open. Not only for the current residents, but for future residents that may need our level of care and support.
This may be someone you know and love. Do you want them sent off island for that care? Please, help us by contacting local officials and agencies to maintain our house. We are part of your community.
MARILYN BOYCE, JAY ZOSA, NORMA PAGAN, SONYA CHRISTOPHERSON, TED BURNETT, HERON GUERAA, JOHNNY MELOCOTON and GLECERIA LEIN, Serenity Court staff
Recycling
Put blue bins in their place
On March 8, you published an article (“Recycling Made Easier”) about Bainbridge Disposal switching to a “single-stream” recycling system. All customers would receive 64-gallon bins with bright blue noticeable tops. It has now been a few weeks since they’ve been delivered and the first pick-ups have occurred.
While driving back from Lynwood Center to the northern part of the island this week, I was dismayed by the number of bins sitting out at the end of many, many driveways after their pick-up day.
It appears that lots of people are opting to leave them by the road and I assume just fill them with their recycled items. Now I’m all for recycling as much as possible, however, looking at these unsightly bins is dismaying. Please consider taking them back to your home rather than leaving them out by the road. Thanks!
LYLE KAHLE
Bainbridge Island
Community
Realtors to adhere to code
As real estate professionals, we are invested both personally and professionally in the beauty and appearance of our home, Bainbridge Island. It only takes a trip to communities in other parts of our state to recognize that one of the reasons Bainbridge is so appealing is our lack of signs cluttering the streets, roadsides and highway.
The onset of spring is often a good time to take a look around and see what in our homes and community needs some cleaning up. We believe that the proliferation of real estate signs and directional arrows may well fall into that category.
Signs are an important tool for real estate professionals and the city sign code (15.08.030M) specifically allows one sign on the property being sold. Our sellers expect and benefit from tidy and well-placed yardarm signs, often with flyers, to direct agents and buyers to their properties.
A number of years ago the local real estate brokers and the city’s code enforcer reached an agreement allowing small, low arrow signs to be placed in city right-of-ways on streets or lanes without a clear street sign, or on long, multiple-home driveways. Both of these appropriate uses of signs are vital to correctly identifying a property for sale.
We regret, however, that it’s becoming commonplace to have arrow signs littering intersections and cluttering our roadsides, or even multiple yardarm signs. This practice can snowball when anxious sellers pressure agents to do everything possible to compete in a tight marketplace.
It’s also a practice that can negatively impact our neighborhoods, and may not be necessary. With the help of real estate professionals and the results of Internet searches, properties are being successfully marketed now in a much broader fashion than ever before.
Effective May 1, every listing in each undersigned office will feature a yardarm sign only in compliance with the city’s sign code, and will provide directional arrows only on streets without city street signs or on driveways with multiple homes. If you see signs placed inappropriately, please let our office know so we can remove them. Thank you!
JIM LAWS, Windermere Real Estate; VICKI BROWNING, John L. Scott; BARB MCKENZIE, Coldwell Banker McKenzie; JUDY NIEUKIRK, Prudential Real Estate; CRAIG CLARK, Johansson Clark Real Estate
