Blood needed
Demand is great, so Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church will host another Pop-Up Blood Donation Center Aug. 6.
The address is 11042 Sunrise Dr. NE, Bainbridge Island.
Make an appointment at schedule.RollingBay or www.BloodworksNW.org o call 1-800-398-7888, ext. 1.
Hospitals always are in need of blood donations during summer, but even more so this year as things open up after 1½ years of COVID-19 restrictions.
Live on lawn
Two shows are coming up on the lawn in front of Bainbridge Performing Arts, 200 Madison Ave. N.
On Aug. 12, the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra will perform chamber music at 7 p.m. No tickets or reservations are required. Space is limited to first-come, first-served on the socially distanced grass space.
On Aug. 19, Nikola Tesla and the Mother of Invention from Matheatre will perform. Matheatre uses live theater to inspire excitement about math and science. This world-premiere original music production is on a four-city summer tour before traveling to museums and schools worldwide. For more go to www.matheatre.com
Performances are free but donations are accepted.
Bigfoot movie
Directed by Bainbridge’s Taylor Guterson, and starring islander John Green, the documentary-style film Hunting Bigfoot opens at Lynwood Aug. 13.
The VIP screening Aug. 12 kickstarts a new fundraising campaign to help renovate the Lynwood Theatre. Those tickets feature a pre-show reception, post-show Q&A with the film’s stars and director and some swag.
For tickets: farawayentertainment.com/historic-lynwood/
Retreat priorities
On a recent Saturday, the City Council held a retreat.
The retreat allowed the council to state its highest priorities: Climate Action Implementation; Winslow Master Plan; Housing Action Plan, Needs Assessment and Inventory; Groundwater Management Plan; Wastewater Treatment Plant and Beneficial Water Reuse; Transfer of Development Rights Program; and Small Lots Development Regulations.
The usual and routine activities of the municipal corporation such as financial management, personnel, and routine maintenance are not considered because they are the standard baseline for routine operations.
At its Aug. 10 business meeting, the council will revisit these priorities and consider formal adoption.
The Council also discussed working smarter, the length of council meetings, and how they could manage their workload. As a result, the public can expect to see some changes that will make council meetings shorter and agendas more manageable.
The retreat was also the first step back to in-person council meetings. In August, the Council Chambers will again be occupied and meetings will be in person.
Project restarts
Construction on the Sound to Olympics Sakai Pond Connector Trail is anticipated to resume.
The project was recently delayed due to equipment issues experienced by the contractor. City staff expect that construction will resume after repairs have been completed.
Traffic committee
In order to provide technically based and objective review of issues or questions dealing with traffic operations, Bainbridge Island City Manager Blair King has established a Traffic Operations Committee.
The internal staff committee is made up of the director of Public Works, chief of police, city attorney, city engineer, deputy city manager and planning director.
The committee will review traffic operations issues and provide King with recommendations based upon applicable technical documents to address a range of traffic and mobility issues associated with public right of way.
It is envisioned as issues related to traffic (speed limits, traffic control signs, no parking, etc.). The committee will be tasked with developing recommendations, which the City Manager will use to guide his recommendations to the City Council or for implementation.
Construction delayed
Construction for the Eagle Harbor Drive Phase II non-motorized improvements project is delayed until mid-August as staff evaluates the design.
Construction began in June. Since then, city staff has been working with the contractor to lay out a configuration that will include widened areas of physical separation of the bike lanes from the roadway on both sides of the road along the majority of the alignment. This revised design will provide a safe and comfortable ride for all ages.
Vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians should be prepared to slow down and proceed with caution and patience when traveling through the construction area. City staff expect that a majority of the project will be completed prior to the start of the school year in September.
Hip Hop show
A benefit hip-hop concert will be held Aug. 13 from 7-10 p.m. at Bainbridge Island Grange Hall, 10349 Madison Ave.
The event is being put on by Doc Blackwell, who runs the nonprofit DocLuvTheKids. Tickets are $10. Lyrical content will be appropriate for all ages, and a portion of the ticket sales will go toward backpacks and school supplies for students in Kitsap County.
The featured artists are Noisyboy, IC3rd, Darrell Dominic, and Jordy Sam. If people cannot make it but want to donate they can reach out via email to booking.ic3rd@gmail.com
Carr walk
Bainbridge Island Councilmember Christy Carr will host her monthly Walk the Ward Aug. 7 at 10 a.m.
Join her to chat about city business while strolling island trails and quiet roads.
Meeting location and walk details at ccarr@bainbridgewa.gov or Instagram @councilmembercarr.
Mini golf
Mini golf by donation will be available at Seabold Church from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 14 at Seabold Church.
The Kiwanis Mini Golf setup has been used on July 4 at Waterfront Park previously. Family Fun Day will be at 6894 Seabold Church Road on Bainbridge Island.
Local scholars
Bainbridge Island: The University of Hartford, Grace Smith; Maggie McCulloch, Bates College
Jobless down
During the week of July 18-24, there were 4,554 initial regular unemployment claims (down 10% from the prior week) and 311,097 total claims for all unemployment benefit categories (down 1.5%) filed by Washingtonians, according to the Employment Security Department.Initial regular claims applications are 84% below the same period last year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The four-week moving average for initial claims is at 5,257 (compared to pre-pandemic of 6,071). That represents the lowest levels of initial claims for regular benefits since the onset of COVID, and the seventh-consecutive week initial claims have reached a new pandemic low.
Initial claims applications for regular benefits, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, as well as continued/ongoing claims for all benefits, decreased over the week.
Decreases in layoffs in Construction and Health Care and Social Assistance contributed to the decrease.
In the week ending July 24, ESD paid out over $189 million for 232,247 individual claims. Since the crisis began in March 2020, ESD has paid more than $20.2 billion in benefits to over 1.1 million Washingtonians.
