“Math scores among elementary-age Bainbridge students are declining, while reading, writing and listening skills continue to climb.Those are the preliminary findings of the latest round of Washington Assessment of Student Learning testing.While preliminary, this data does invite attention to the area of mathematics, said Faith Chapel, new superintendent of curriculum and instruction for the Bainbridge Island School District.Results from the WASLs and other tests will be analyzed during this year’s K-12 mathematics program review, she said. “
Better signs and high-profile police presence will promote safety in school zones this fall, advocates hope.A grant from the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission will fund overtime work and put extra patrol officers around schools for the next two weeks, Bainbridge Police Traffic Officer Rob Corn said. Police will use radar enforcement and a portable speed sign to show drivers how fast they’re going.Also, the city’s public works department will revise school zone speed limits to specify 20 mph from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for Blakely and Wilkes elementary schools during weekdays.
“Continuing a recent trend of high interest in service on the Bainbridge Island Fire Board, four candidates go before voters in the Sept. 18.All vie for the single open seat on the three-person board, and two will advance to the November general ballot. In interviews with the Review this week, candidates discussed their qualifications and views on issues facing the department, including tax funding; collective bargaining with career fire personnel; maintaining the volunteer program; and developing facilities and equipment. “
“The school bus hits the road Sept. 5, and the school district hopes students will be on board.Administrators say that increased bus ridership will lessen traffic tie-ups due to roundabout construction.We’re encouraging everyone to ride to diminish traffic congestion and enhance students safety, deputy superintendent Ken Crawford said.Construction will begin between Sept. 10 and Oct. 1, according to city officials. The intersection of High School Road and Madison Avenue is slated to be closed to traffic for 21 days – but may be closed for longer, if inclement weather delays building. “
“We were pleased with Kitsap County Auditor Karen Flynn’s decision last week declaring Bill Nelson to be a resident at his folks’ Wing Point home, and thus eligible to run for office from Bainbridge Island’s central ward.It’s not that we necessarily favor Nelson – it’s too early for us to make up our minds. But we like voters to have choices, and Nelson is a clear-cut alternative to neighborhood activist Bill Knobloch, whose neighbors challenged Nelson’s residence, and youthful barista Houston Wade. “
“After several quarters of steady increases, Bainbridge real estate prices dropped significantly in July.But according to local real-estate professionals, it’s a return to normalcy.Prices have dropped, no question about it, said Judy Nieukirk of Prudential Northwest Real Estate on Bainbridge Island. I see price reductions coming in daily. But I think this is a leveling out, and a return to what we normally see on Bainbridge. “
“The state securities division has made permanent its order shutting down stock sales in Bainbridge-based Health Maintenance Centers, Inc., as neither HMC nor founder Kevin Lawrence contested allegations of improper conduct.And as the state’s probe continues, state investigators say the number of investors and amount of money raised may be greater than first thought.This is the biggest case in my 20 years, said Deborah Bortner, Washington State Securities Administrator and department spokesperson. There is so much money and so many people involved. “
“The songs go on, but the singer has new backup.Peter Hwosch takes up his guitar at Pegasus Coffeehouse Sept. 1, to sing about personal introspection and global activism, in a seven-year-old series now coordinated by the Island Music Teachers Guild.Since series creator Korum Bischoff is also a guild member, the transition in mid-August was smooth. It’s something that I’ve always done for Pegasus, but now I’m getting more support from the guild, Bischoff said. “
“Kitsap County’s freeholders will show islanders the first draft of their proposed new county charter next week.But far from seeking support, Bainbridge’s two freeholders see the meeting as an opportunity to make a show of force against a provision they say is bad for both the island and the county, and may in fact be aimed at diluting the island’s influence on county government.We’re better off with what we have now than with this new charter, said George McKinney, who joined Andy Maron on the 21-member board writing a new constitution for Kitsap County. “
“A year ago in this space, as work got under way on a new Kitsap County charter, we expressed concern that some of the reformers would simply try to reform their way into power.Now, having drafted a charter that would drastically change the way county commissioners are elected, freeholder and Republican activist Matt Ryan confirms our suspicions, telling the Review in an interview this week that the plan created a higher probability of balance, meaning electing Republicans. “
“Peel away the gleaming new aluminum siding on the main building at the Eagle Harbor ferry maintenance yard and you find the core of historic Bainbridge.The massive building – one of the biggest on the island – is the last remnant of the Hall Brothers shipyard, once among the world’s largest. But how much useful life is left in the century-old building?That’s the question a legislative committee will attempt to answer over the next year and a half. The facility needs major dollars to upgrade it, modernize it and put safety facilities in place, said Rep. Beverly Woods, (R-Poulsbo), one of the committee members.Before spending that money, we want to take a look at the whole facility and see if future maintenance can be done there most cost effectively. “
A $10.5 million request for a new 911 center and emergency management facility in west Bremerton is close to the November ballot.Kitsap County Commissioners expect to vote on Monday in favor of sending the county’s Central Communication request to Kitsap residents this fall.Commissioners say the February earthquake that shook the Puget Sound region served as a wakeup call to all those who depend on 911 services in Kitsap.
“The Parent and Child Center will become a hair salon Aug. 24. But only for a day – stylists Aletia Bennett and Michele Belieu will take scissors in hand to run a cut-a-thon, a marathon of haircutting to raise money for the Helpline program in Commodore Center.Bennett decided to harnesses her skill as a hair stylist to help PCC because when she needed help for her son, the center was there. “
