BHS teacher lost to AIDS

Longtime Bainbridge High School English teacher Rob Goldsworthy, who was open with his students about the challenges of living with AIDS, died from complications of the disease on Friday. He was 38.

Goldsworthy was known on campus for his enthusiasm and creativity, his ability to connect with a diverse range of students, and for bringing out the best in student writers, his colleagues at the high school said.

“This young man was one in a million,” said Bainbridge schools Superintendent Ken Crawford. “There will never be another like him. His natural ability to enthrall, enchant and enrich our lives and those of his students is a gift we will always cherish.”

In addition to teaching English and writing, Goldsworthy’s 12-year career at BHS included coaching tennis and the debate team, and serving as an advisor to the high school’s Gay-Straight Alliance and United Brothers and Sisters Club.

“He was one of the most compassionate human beings I have ever known,” said Maria Rivera, multicultural specialist at BHS, who worked with Goldsworthy on the school’s “Diversity Matters” campaign. “He gave so much of himself to our students. He set the tone for human rights and human dignity in our school.”

Goldsworthy had the gift of making learning fun, several educators said.

“Walk into Rob’s class and hold onto your seats,” said Karla Sullivan, a teacher in the BHS English Department. “The disco ball was turning, music was playing and a proud banner displayed Rob’s philosophy: ‘No Hate Zone.’ Mr. Goldsworthy was an inspired teacher; he taught with energy and love.”

After more than a decade of teaching, Goldsworthy’s health began to fail and he was forced to take a leave of absence in the 2003-2004 school year. But he was not forgotten: that spring, the graduating seniors invited him to speak at their baccalaureate event.

“In his enthusiastic and upbeat manner, he encouraged the kids to go out and improve themselves and the world around them,” Peterson said. “He spoke of his own challenges in life and the rewards that he experienced because of his involvement in teaching.”

Goldsworthy tried to return to teaching this past fall, but his health deteriorated and he again had to take a leave of absence. He never got well enough to return.

News of his death was announced to students and staff Friday, with counselors and administrators available to speak with the bereaved.

“This is a difficult time for our school community,” Peterson said. “I know that Mr. Goldsworthy would challenge us to take good care of each other during this difficult time, and continue our work to make Bainbridge High School a supportive and successful environment for all members of our community.”

– Rhonda Parks Manville

Low-cost clinic closes doors

With a perceived need for low-cost medical care on the island, Peninsula Community Health Services opened a Bainbridge clinic last August.

Due to low demand, the clinic is closing March 28.

“This was the reality: with a clinic only one day a week, it was hard to get ongoing patients,” said Willa Fisher, MD, who helped bring the clinic to Bainbridge while serving on the city’s Health, Housing and Human Services Council’s action team.

Hailing from Peninsula’s Poulsbo clinic, the staff were on-island every Monday in the Bainbridge Commons, and served from six to 10 patients. At the Poulsbo clinic, which is open five days a week, the staff would help 20-30 patients a day.

PCHS reported that during its eight months, the Bainbridge Island clinic provided 241 visits to 109 island residents.

“It gets down to cost, benefit and need,” Fisher said. “They came at our request. We didn’t know what would happen. With a lot of federal funding decreasing, clinics financially don’t have a lot of money to run clinics” that are underused.

Bainbridge patients will be directed to the Poulsbo clinic off SR-305, in the same plaza as the state Department of Licensing office. Fisher said that location may actually be more convenient, being open weekdays.

On the positive side, she said, the Bainbridge clinic “got some new people into the system that didn’t go through Helpline (House),” and has increased awareness of PCHS services.

The Peninsula Community Health Clinic in Poulsbo provides low-cost medical care at 19045 Hwy 305, Plaza 305 No. 180. Contact the clinic at (360) 779-1963 or see www.pchsweb.org for more information.

–Tina Lieu

Small home, big dreams

A glance at the finely crafted details can easily stir up dream-home reveries.

But watch your head as you enter. The door’s a little low.

“It may look like a playhouse, but it’s actually a work of art,” said Dave Mordue, who helped build the mini-lodge with other Madrona School dads as a scholarship fundraiser.

Scaled down to about one-fiftieth the size of a full-scale house, the playhouse features a loft, front porch and skylights. The hand-hewn planks are a feast for nearly all the senses and the posts still bear telltale knots and curves.

“I used to cut wood as a kid, that’s how I got my start,” said David Kotz, the island woodworker behind much of the playhouse’s construction. “I would split wood and always bend over to see the beautiful interior, the texture and grain. I like that to be seen in my work.”

Over $7,000 worth of labor and materials went into the playhouse, but one lucky person can have it for just five bucks, said Mordue.

The playhouse is making the rounds around town, with a stop last week at Ace Hardware and a visit this weekend at Safeway, gathering $5 raffle tickets for an April 16 drawing.

Past projects for the 15 crafty dads, who go by “The M Men,” include fence mending and a new playground for the Waldorf-affiliated school. The men hope their latest project will fetch a good price to help keep tuition costs low for some of Madrona School’s students.

“We like to emphasize handiwork in our projects, and this time it’s a fund-raiser – but really it’s just to keep us out of trouble,” Mordue said.

For information about the playhouse project, see www.scg411.com/playhouse or www.madronaschool.org or call 855-8041. 

– Tristan Baurick

Relaying the baton for life

The Bainbridge Island Kiwanis Club is assembling a team for the third year to participate in the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” from July 9-10 at North Kitsap High School.

A major fund-raising event for ACS, the relay run goes from 10 a.m. July 9 to July 10 with teams keeping at least one runner on the track for the whole 24-hour period.

The Kiwanis Club first ran with the Kingston and Poulsbo Kiwanis clubs in 2003, and fielded its own team last year.

Kiwanis Club member Chuck MacLearnsberry says the club joined to help promote the event and increase interest among organizations on the island.

“Last year I saw the dawn and sun come up,” he said, taking the tough 4-6 a.m. shift. “It’s an uplifting experience and builds esprit de corps. There aren’t many who haven’t lost somebody to cancer. It’s a way to show your support.”

Participants are asked to try to raise $100 each. The Kiwanis plan to field a team of 24-30 members this year.

Interested individuals or organizations can get information and sign-up forms from Chuck MacLearnsberry by calling 842-7716 or 842-7438 in the evening.

– Tina Lieu