Police car fund established
At the urging of island residents, the city has established a dedicated fund for the contributions it has received for repair and replacement of property damaged during recent vandalism at the Bainbridge Police Department.
City Administrator Mark Dombroski said the city is not soliciting funds for the repairs, but he said enough people have come forward with donations that the city decided to set up an account for handling contributions.
The largest contribution so far came from a June 13 car wash hosted by the Bainbridge High School Class of 2008. It raised nearly $3,000 to benefit the police department.
“I know our police officers appreciate the many expressions of support they have received from the community in the wake of the vandalism,” Dombroski said. “The City of Bainbridge Island is well served by a team of hard working, dedicated police officers. The way in which they maintained operations during this event, when several cars were out of service, exemplifies the level of professionalism we can expect from them. Responsive service from several area businesses was also helpful in getting the cars into working order almost immediately.”
Eight police vehicles were damaged in a vandalism spree at the Winslow Way station June 11. Paint was dumped on all the vehicles and five had tires slashed. Damage was valued at over $15,000, not including repairs to the station’s parking lot.
Two fomer BHS students have since been charged with felony malicious mischief in the case, with trials scheduled for September.
For more information, contact the city finance department at 780-8668.
‘Kennewick Man’ coming
Beginning July 2, the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum will feature a month-long stay of an exhibit called “Kennewick Man on Trial,” which details the controversy surrounding the 1996 discovery on the banks of the Columbia River of the remains known as Kennewick Man.
Organized by the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture at the University of Washington, where the Kennewick Man remains are stored, this exhibit uses text, photos, maps and historic illustrations to explore the science as well as the ethical and legal ramifications of the discovery. No human remains are displayed.
Public interest, debate and controversy began when an independent archaeologist claimed the skeleton, dated at about 9,000 years and one of the most complete set of bones found in the Americas, might not be Native American. If not Native American, then who was Kennewick Man? What can his remains tell us about modern concepts of “race” and the story of the peopling of America?
The exhibit, which will run through August 3, approaches these controversial questions from multiple perspectives, with insight from Native Americans, scientists, and anthropologists.
The Historical Museum is located at 215 Ericksen Ave. For more information call 842-2773.
Summer blood donors needed
Vacations, more outdoor activities and other summertime distractions annually contribute to a nationwide decrease in blood donations in summer.
Puget Sound Blood Center has begun a campaign this summer to help maintain an adequate blood supply at a time when donations traditionally drop and trauma cases increase by 20 percent. Called Give Twice, the new campaign asks donors to give blood between June and August and again 56 days later – the soonest time allowable.
The goal of Give Twice is to keep the Western Washington blood supply at an operational level through this season and into the fall with a steady stream of donations.
“Timing is the key here,” said David Leitch, the Blood Center’s director of donor and volunteer resources.
Donations can be made any time at PSBC donor centers. The organization’s Silverdale donor center is located at 3230 NW Randall Way, and can be reached at (360) 337-1985. Appointments can be made at any donor center by calling (800) 398-7888 or online at www.psbc.org.
PSBC blood drives are also scheduled at St. Cecilia Church on July 2, and Bainbridge First Baptist Church on July 17. Contact Greg Supancheck at gregs@psbc.org for more information.
PSBC will be offering donors who keep their two-donation pledge a cookbook comprised of the favorite personal recipes of Blood Center employees and volunteers.
Puget Sound Blood Center is an independent nonprofit that operates the world’s largest transfusion service. It serves patients in more that 70 hospitals and clinics in 14 Western Washington counties, and provides tissue and transplantation support to 185 hospitals across the Northwest.
IslandWood going wild
The annual Backyard Habitat Family Fair, aimed at helping families learn how to create wildlife-friendly spaces where they live, will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at IslandWood.
Highlights include stories, guided nature walks and a live demonstration bee hive. Kids can also learn how to build a bird nest box, meet the Bat Man and Sammy Snag, one of IslandWood’s favorite characters.
The fair is free and snacks will be provided. IslandWood is located at 4450 Blakely Ave. Call 855-4300 for more information.
Turf projects move forward
Both ongoing island artificial turf projects rolled closer to their respective goals this month.
On June 14, the city’s planning department made a determination of environmental non-significance on the Bainbridge Metropolitan Park and Recreation District’s proposal for two artificial turf surfaces to be installed on fields at Battle Point Park. The city is accepting comments on the decision until 4 p.m. June 30 and appeals will be accepted through July 7.
According to the SEPA application the project will include the removal of 1,400 cubic yards of sod, which will be taken to a composting facility. The existing sand and crumb rubber will likely be incorporated in the new fields subgrade, the application said.
As with the current fields, stormwater runoff from the new fields will be directed 200 yards north to a detention pond, which has overflow drainage into Ferry Dell Creek.
The project also includes parking lot and sidewalk improvements. Organizers hope to begin construction on the $1.4 million project his summer.
Meanwhile crews last week began stripping sod off the field at Bainbridge Island School District’s Memorial Stadium to make way for a artificial surface to be installed later this summer.
District Capital Projects Manager Nancy Josephson said people using facilities will be aware of increased construction activity at the east side of the campus in the coming week.
Trucks will be using the entrance near the district’s main office on Madison Avenue to access the stadium. The parking lot of Ordway Elementary School will also be used for staging materials being removed from the field.
In April the district awarded Precision Earthworks Inc. the $1.9 million bid to install the new turf. The artificial turf field is part of a larger renovation project that will resurface the stadium’s track among other improvements.
