“A new mural by Squamish artist Dale Harry, unveiled at the Title IX Indian education program celebration Saturday, depicts traditions shared by Bainbridge’s native population and their first nation cousins of Canada.Those traditions are in turn strengthened by the Bainbridge Schools District’s Indian Education program.The coast Salish mural, a triptych of three painted panels, each 4-feet square, was commissioned for the walls of Commodore Center with funds from the district’s multicultural education budget.All the Commodore programs made the commitment to a piece of art that would welcome every student, said Catherine Camp, district alternative program coordinator, and we seized the opportunity to have an artist-in-residence come. “
“When the tools of your trade are a telephone and a computer, where you’re located doesn’t make a lot of difference to your company.But it can make a lot of difference to you, as Paul McEwan learned when he moved from Houston to Bainbridge Island without leaving his job with Richard, Wayne & Roberts, a national job recruiting firm.There’s really not much difference between 20 feet down the hall and 2,000 miles away, said McEwan. We’re tied in by computer, and I communicate with Houston all day. “
“It’s easy to imagine the KidsUp! playpark as a small wooden island in Puget Sound, rather than a play structure anchored in a sea of pebbles.Fish and water images abound. In the art works that are an integral part of the Battle Point Park structure, salmon leap into the air, climb a glimmering metal waterfall, dive under the surface of the pond at Rockaway Beach, shimmy across a glass pool.The art lets you know this is a playpark in the Pacific Northwest, said Babette Gazarian-Cherne, the project’s art coordinator.Without the art works, the feeling of the playpark would be a lot more impersonal. “
“If island families find it easier this year to find youth services, they may have the new Community Connections for Youth to thank.The program, run by island’s Health Housing and Human Services Council, brings together eight non-profits with differing goals but at least two similarities – they serve Bainbridge youth, and they’re willing to work together to improve delivery. “
“As the political season gets under way, we can anticipate hearing a lot more about growth.The first announced Bainbridge mayoral candidate, Chris Llewellyn, refers to island growth as a problem. If the survey recently completed on behalf of the Trust for Public Lands is any indication, a majority of islanders share her sentiments. “
“Looking at Painter Mark Norrander’s current show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts, one might conclude that each small stroke contributes to make his work a masterstroke.The egg tempera paintings on masonite, which range from 18 to 30 inches square have up to 20 layers of tiny cross-hatched brush strokes. Working from dark to light, Norrander builds a surface that has little texture but remarkable depth and dynamism. “
“Overwhelming support on Bainbridge Island provided the margin of victory for the Kitsap Transit tax levy, according to final results from the County Auditor’s office.Islanders voted 5,956 to 1,770 – a 77.1 percent margin – to approve the additional three-tenths of 1 percent in sales taxes in the mail-only election in May. “
“Saying she wants to continue and extend Dwight Sutton’s work as a conciliator and mediator, Chris Llewellyn this week announced her candidacy for mayor.Presently chair of the Bainbridge Island park board, Llewellyn becomes the first declared candidate to succeed Sutton, who is not seeking re-election. “
“Young adults – ages 20-34 – are in short supply on Bainbridge Island. And the youngest of that group – those 20 to 24 – might qualify for endangered-species status.The reason, it appears, is not entirely economic. Rather, it’s the absence of habitat. Young adults, it seems, go where rental housing is plentiful, and avoid places like Bainbridge where it is not.That information emerges from new demographic data recently released by the Census Bureau, giving more detail about the 20,308 residents of Bainbridge counted in the 2000 census. “
“The movement of information can replace the need to move people.That’s the premise to be explored at the daylong Bainbridge Economic Vitality Conference, themed Ferry Boats Are Not The Answer: What About Telecommunications Infrastructure? “
“Most island home and business owners by now have probably received postcards notifying them of changes to the assessed value of their properties.And as usual, Bainbridge property owners will see an increase in their valuations averaging roughly 10 percent. County Assessor Jim Avery and his staff mailed off the notices on May 25, before the Memorial Day Weekend break, as part of the department’s ongoing reassessment efforts. “
“An outbreak of racist graffiti at Bainbridge High School – including Nazi iconography and anti-minority slogans – has drawn the attention of police.We’ve had numbers of swastikas show up, said Bainbridge Police Chief Bill Cooper, who sought this week to enlist the help of the public.Three incidents were reported at the school in March and another three last month, although none have been reported for at least three weeks. “
“Public participation takes many forms.Countless islanders get involved as the parents of youngsters, helping out in our schools or coaching athletic programs. Others volunteer with the elderly or infirm, pick up garbage at roadsides, run for office or just work behind the scenes to change the community for the better. We thank them.Others find their calling in sitting back and complaining about traffic revisions – but this isn’t about them.Instead, it’s about those who make the occasional exemplary effort, and we paid homage to some of them – and their success – this past weekend and here again today. “