The calendar will start anew, but the issues won’t – the year in review, Part 4.

OCTOBER

Development du jour: Seattle developer Brian Regan unveils plans for Peach Place, a mixed-use development on Ericksen Avenue. He and architect Ronald Lacey hope to achieve an “old-timey” look for the buildings.

Banking on another cornerstone of the local food pyramid – caffeine – Harbour Public House Jocelyn and Jeff Waite purchase Pegasus Coffee House from Hazel Van Evera.

Mayor Darlene Kordonowy unveils a $56 million city budget for 2007. About 40 percent of the draft budget is dedicated to capital projects, which the city has had trouble completing in the past year because of staff turnover. The budget would fill current vacancies, and add 12 new staff positions besides. Next stop: City Council.

Bainbridge Performing Arts marks its 50th anniversary season with the debut of Tom Stoppard’s “Arcadia.”

Bainbridge Police nick a 22-year-old motorist for narcotics and gun possession during a routine traffic stop, the latest in a series of drug-related busts on the island. Others of note: 500 grams of marijuana netted in a traffic stop, and the breakup of a suspected heroin and crack operation at a Lynwood Center home. Police say drug activity often manifests itself in property crimes like car and home break-ins, as consumers try raise money to support their habits. A spire to change: a crane crew hoists the steeple from Eagle Harbor Congregational Church in downtown Winslow for refurbishment on the ground. The tower is buttressed and fitted with a second bell that will toll for community events, concluding a $500,000 capital campaign to patch up the historic church.

An unexpected drop in enrollment forces budget cuts by the Bainbridge Island School District. Some $418,000 is paired from the budget mid-year, as staff hours, after-school club stipends and one administrative position are pared. Planners for the new Bain­bridge High School wing finds themselves in similar straits. The $20.85 million building is $800,000 over budget, leaving architects to cut out numerous features before the design is approved.

At Rolling Bay, a youth’s goat pen runs afoul of the city’s code enforcement office after complaints by neighbors. The City Council in turn calls for better enforcement and perhaps a second code officer – or, as one councilman famously puts it, more “adult supervision.”

The council approves density bonuses for some Winslow developments in exchange for public amenities like public parks. The council also reduces the parking requirement in some Winslow zones, to spur redevelopment and promote alternative modes of transportation.

New Municipal Court Judge Kate Carruthers petitions the City Council courthouse upgrades. The courtroom furniture is ramshackle, she says, and even the American flag is in tatters.

Peripatetic Dave and Alice Shorett publish “Walks on Bainbridge Island,” a guide to local hiking trails. Proceeds from sales go to the Bainbridge Island Land Trust. At the same time, the city’s Open Space Commission brokers purchase of a 33-acre watershed on Toe Jam Hill.

Pressured by neighbors unhappy over a sidewalk plan deemed insufficiently “holistic,” the City Council torpedoes non-motorized improvements on Grow Avenue. This, after two years and more than $100,000 worth of planning, and the fact that it means turning down a $450,000 state grant to pay for the project. A week later, the council pledges another $100,000 for Grow planning.

As throngs of costumed trick-or-treaters parade outside on Halloween, a man wearing a “skull” mask robs Vern’s Drug of prescription pain medication.

NOVEMBER

The City Council promptly discards much of the mayor’s draft budget, curtailing new staff positions while at the same time proposing million of dollars worth new initiatives and a citizen committee to oversee public works. The mayor promptly threatens to veto the budget.

Biologists and conservationists say the health of Blakely Harbor hangs in the balance. Meanwhile, the City Council is given five alternatives for resolving lawsuits over a ban on new docks there. Choices range from maintaining the current limit – three new docks – to allowing buildout of more than 50.

Islanders commemorate the sinking of the steamer SS Dix en route from Seattle to Port Blakely 100 years ago. An estimated 45 people lost their lives in the worst maritime disaster in Bainbridge history. The event is marked with a commemorative cruise, as wreaths are laid at the site of the sinking off Alki Point.

Bainbridge Island’s community chest marks its five-year anniversary by changing its name. The Bainbridge Island Community Endowment becomes the Bainbridge Community Foundation – not to be confused with other agencies that change their names around the same time, including One Call For All (formerly the Bainbridge Foundation) and the Bainbridge Education Foundation (formerly the Bainbridge Education Support Team and the Bainbridge Island Public Schools Trust). All three raise money from private pockets for non-profit groups and schools; donations welcome.

The Bainbridge High School volleyball team digs, sets and spikes its way to fourth place at the state tournament in Kennewick. Spartan football sees a storybook season come to an unfortunate close, falling to Shorecrest 21-14 early in post-season play.

A blue wave sweeps the nation on election day, and Bainbridge Island and Kitsap County are carried along with the tide. Democrat and former island councilwoman Christine Rolfes unseats incumbent Republican Bev Woods in the 23rd District of the state House, while incumbent Democrat Sherry Appleton fends off island fire commissioner Earl Johnson for the district’s other seat. Democrats also regain control of the Kitsap County Commission as Josh Brown sprints past Republican Jack Hamilton, who campaigned against Brown’s youthfulness and called him “son” during a public forum. In federal races, Democrat Maria Cantwell easily holds her seat against former insurance executive Mike McGavick, while island Congressman Jay Inslee earns easy re-election as well.

While he won’t be traveling to Olympia, Earl Johnson will have more company on the fire board. Island voters approve expansion of the board from three members to five. Even as prospective candidates are sought, the fire board is frustrated in its search for a new fire chief. A first group of applicants is poorly qualified, prompting an expanded search.

As city budget meetings drag on, Administrator Mary Jo Briggs blasts councilmembers for ignoring city staff and pursuing a separatist agenda.

Tiny Island Utility Water System has an E. coli scare, prompting a “boil water advisory” for the system’s 146 connections. Unfortunately, a news release from the state Department of Ecology expansively warns “Bainbridge Island water utility customers” of bad water, leading to fears by folks served by other water purveyors entirely.

There’s still plenty of water to go around, at least on the surface. In fact, the island sees record rains throughout the month – 15 inches in 30 days give or take, depending on where you happen to sit under the clouds.

DECEMBER

A consultant’s “benchmarking” study finds City Hall mired in a turf war between the City Council and the administration. The tug-of-war is blamed for rampant staff turnover – 31 positions go vacant at some point in 2006 – expensive services and inefficient delivery. Also to blame: too many committees. Predictably, everyone comes away from the report with something different. One council member faults the administration for “orchestrated attacks,” while another blames the council itself for “micromanaging” city affairs. Faced with deadlines to resolve Blakely Harbor dock litigation and adopt the next city budget, the council decides to consider the report’s findings in 2007.

Completion of a new boardwalk formally opens the scenic Hall Property on Eagle Harbor. Access the park from Hawley Way or Wing Point.

The New York Times honors Bainbridge Library branch manager Cindy Harrison as one of the top librarians in the nation. Michael Adams and Maureen Halligan are named to the newly expanded fire board.

After packed-house hearings at City Hall and some 700 pages of public comment from 1,000 people, the council decides to settle Blakely Harbor dock lawsuits…by not deciding anything. The council will instead continue to study the issue into the new year.

And finally, after beginning 2006 with a pledge to have shorter, more efficient meetings, the council devotes an estimated 60 hours worth of public meetings and some 1,000 person-hours of council and staff time – not counting prep time leading up to the meetings themselves – to the city budget. The council then votes the budget down. On a hasty second motion, the council approves operations spending but leaves capital projects in the balance.

And that leads to…2007.