Bainbridge wishlist
To the editor:
A project starting its way through the design review process with the BI Planning Commission looks to add some amenities to the Lynwood Center Neighborhood. Proposed is a much-needed Japanese Day Spa, a “we-work” style streetside office complex and a 15-room exclusive inn. It hopefully will bring even more tourists into our residential neighborhood!
C’mon.
At a planning commission meeting July 28, representatives of the Jacobi family shared their initial site plans and ideas. It would be built on the old Serenity House property that had a long history of good service to an underserved population of adults. Their initial proposal seems to focus upon serving mainly the privileged.
Don’t get me wrong — the aesthetics, design and construction of the Pleasant Beach Village is wonderful and thoughtful. And the current amenities are nice. But sneaking a destination resort and exclusive housing community into the Lynwood Neighborhood Center, adding many more vehicular trips (construction, vendors, clients, employees), building atop the local water district’s aquifer, stressing the undersized sewer service and adding to the noise and light pollution is not what this neighbor thinks is best for the community.
Many of the folks in attendance also spoke to the dangers of walking, driving and cycling on Lynwood Center Road. It’s a bit like the video game Frogger. This project would just add to that danger.
I’d love for the city to get some transportation and infrastructure woes sorted out before approving even more growth.
Ian Patrick
Bainbridge
Youth council
To the editor:
During Mayor Ann Blair’s tenure in 2014, 18 Bainbridge teens were appointed to the Youth Advisory Council. Police chief Matthew Hamner also formed the Police Department Youth Advisory Council with three students.
Arlington, Tacoma, Mill Creek, College Place, Everett and Wapato are just some of Washington’s cities with a Youth Advisory Commission, board or council. There are many more examples across the U.S.
Young people are commonly referred to as “leaders of tomorrow,” but we are important intergenerational partners today engaged in youth-led solutions and organizations. Listening to and incorporating our insights benefit our community. Articulating our needs, concerns, and ideas on issues and decisions that promote a positive, healthy and safe environment for all provides an important voice at the table.
There’s no better time than now to reinstate a Youth Advisory Commission. Inspiring youths in our community would qualify to not only serve but work toward re-establishing this body and its framework. The existence of our past Youth Council, municipal code templates, and the process for reviewing and appointing members means we can ramp up without reinventing the wheel.
Please join me in urging our city to act now.
Merrill Keating
Bainbridge
Stop plastics
To the editor:
(Recently), a group of Bainbridge Islanders gathered outside our biggest grocery for a national event sponsored by Beyond Plastics’ and locally by Act4Climate. We know that plastics from grocery packaging are the biggest source of plastic waste and their use keeps increasing. It was a take-back event where participants returned all the plastics from groceries that come into our homes.
You can’t recycle most of this plastic packaging. Plastic recycling is now at 5-6 percent. It poses a growing threat to our environment — polluting our waters and our soils. And there is scientific evidence that plastics, especially in contact with food, are endangering our health.
Plastics are made from fossil fuels. Their production now emits 850 million tons of climate-changing greenhouse gasses — the equivalent of 189 coal-fired plants. It will only get worse. Plastic production quadrupled between 2000 and 2019. Plastic waste will triple in less than 40 years even with conservation efforts. Just processing recycled plastic is polluting.
Recycling what plastics we can (I’m not suggesting we don’t) and finding creative uses for single-use plastics may make us feel good, but those actions will never solve the problem.
Large grocery chains have choices, and they have the clout to demand less and safer packaging from producers. We will continue to speak out. And I will continue to take back all their plastic until they get the message. Sound extreme? It’s nothing compared to what producers are doing to our environment and our health.
Erika Shriner
Bainbridge
Need laughs
To the editor:
We can all use a good laugh these days, and Tom Tyner’s piece on the Opinion page (North Kitsap Herald, July 22) was just what the doctor ordered — so to speak.
He handles the language well — can’t help wondering where one can find a pig’s feet casserole with toe clipping salad, or a fried tripe sandwich. Kinda makes your mouth water, doesn’t it?
Thank you, Tom.
Tommie Marsters
Poulsbo
