“Don Bonker wants to keep the Washington Secretary of State’s office in island hands.And the former seven-term congressman says he is more qualified than any of the other 10 aspirants who want to succeed Bainbridge Island’s Ralph Munro, who is retiring after 20 years in the office. The secretary of state’s most important formal duty, Bonker says, is overseeing state elections, and he had on-the-job training as Clark County auditor, where he oversaw local elections. The secretary’s most important informal job is as a trade ambassador, and Bonker says he learned that aspect of the job as former chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee.I think my credentials really stand out, the Democratic candidate said. I think I have more experience and maturity than anyone else who has ever served as secretary of state. “
“It’s payback time for Bainbridge Island cyclist Steve Rhoades.He’s leaving Saturday morning for a cross-country bike marathon to Washington, D.C. And his objective is to raise $100,000 for the social-service agencies that rescued him from a life of homelessness and substance abuse.I want to give back to all the charities that helped me, Rhoades said. “
“If you want a look at the Bainbridge of tomorrow, check out North Town Woods, a new development north of New Brooklyn Avenue and east of Sportsman Club Road.Lots are small – 6,000 to 7,000 square feet. Of necessity, homes are close together.This is the outgrowth of changed platting requirements that favor clustered development, developer Jim Laughlin said. We have groups of neighborhoods with no cul de sacs. The neighborhoods are separated by open space, and every house backs up to open space. “
“Hoping to reach out to young people in their congregation and in the community, two Bainbridge churches have added new staff to focus on youths and their families.Dan Holland has joined the staff at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church as director of youth missions and ministries, while Julie Honig-Smith has come to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church as associate rector, with a focus on youth work.”
“A city secretary was fired last year for alleged irregularities in invoices for work done earlier under a personal services contract. The irregularities were disclosed in an audit of the city books for the 1998 fiscal year, released by the state Auditor’s Office last week.But whether or not the woman – then under contract as a secretary for the Civil Service Commission, and later hired briefly as a part-time secretary in the mayor’s office – was paid more than $22,000 for work not performed remains in dispute.”
“Convinced that Kitsap County government is obsolete, a diverse citizen’s group is asking voters for permission to start a remodel.And there is a surprising degree of agreement on what a new county government ought to look like, even among the incumbent office-holders.With the breadth of issues we face, three commissioners are not enough, said Kitsap County Commissioner Chris Endresen of Poulsbo, who represents the north end of the county and Bainbridge Island. And I think an executive and legislative branch with real separation of powers would lead to better decision-making.A group calling itself the Home Rule Committee has gathered enough signatures to put the issue of a home-rule charter for Kitsap County on the Nov. 7 general ballot.Voters will also see a slate of freeholders on that ballot. If the charter petition passes, the elected freeholders will draft a new charter for county government – essentially a local constitution – which in turn would be submitted to the voters for approval.”
“For many readers out there, it’s always a lot more than just another calendar listing. This year, as we look ahead to the American Cancer Society Relay For Life on Aug. 11-12, that someone is us – and we ask for your generosity and help.This week, the editor of this newspaper learned that his mother has breast cancer, and faces a mastectomy. It is, as any family that has been touched by the scourge of cancer can attest, a time of great uncertainty and no small amount of fear. We can hear her now, reading this commentary when the Review arrives in her mailbox in Oregon next week, and her inevitable exclamation of chagrin – Oh, heavens! – irked that we’re making mention of it. But we do so not out of any thought of public sympathy, but rather to remind readers of the suddenness with which cancer can strike, how close to home – and that many in our island community are doing what they can to battle the disease.”
“A popular activity for elementary school students will be dropped from the calendar this coming school year.The swimming program, which has been part of elementary curriculum for the past 25 years, will be terminated this fall due to changes in scheduling. School District Superintendent Steve Rowley announced last week that the swimming module will be discontinued, as it no longer fits into the time frame of the school year.”
“Elizabeth Kelsey is the first to admit that she’s a little nuts about fruit.This is my obsession, my baby, she says about the fruit-based ice cream she sells from her tiny store-front on Bjune Drive below Eagle Harbor Books, next to Lindsley’s and Bainbridge Auto Parts.Kelsey’s All-Natural Ice Cream, as the store is called, is a misnomer. There’s no cream or any other dairy product involved. Only organically grown fruit.”
“Craig Snyder didn’t want to see part of Bainbridge Island’s history lost to the wrecking ball.So last winter, to alert users and passersby, Snyder placed a series of mock eviction notices inside the old concrete building at Blakely Harbor Park, announcing its condemnation.It’s always been thought of as kind of a nuisance (because of vandalism), said Snyder, an island public-art advocate who works for a hi-tech firm in Seattle. But it brings up the whole issue of what to do with these old remnants.Once you get inside (the building) and see some of the views the openings frame, it’s really amazing, he said.”
“In Murden Cove, summertime fills the senses. It inspires the squawks of herons and shrieks of eagles, it ushers away winter clouds to reveal Mt. Ranier towering in the distance. And across tidal flats on gentle breezes, it sends an obnoxious, putrescent stench.Other places on Bainbridge Island can stink, said Brandi Hunt, who lives near the cove, but they don’t stink like this does.On torrid, cloudless days at a low tide, the smell begins. It starts on the mud flats and the silt-covered banks of the Murden Cove stream and it rises in feculent wafts upwards, past Hunt’s house on Moran Road.On the worst days it even reaches the highway, where drivers turning from 305 onto Sportsman Club Road shrivel their noses, roll up their windows and step on the gas.”
“We can imagine standing in line for a latte, sometime in the year 2014, and overhearing a few of the locals still arguing:…And another thing – we never did get to vote on that damn city hall. What was it again? $12 million? $19 million?…Ah, Bainbridge, may it never change. And despite the release of final numbers from the city administration this week, the question of how much the new city facility cost – officially, $7.72 million for the building and grounds, $8.54 million if you factor in a few related improvements – we think there’s still more to the story.”
“This summer, director Steven Fogell decided to introduce something different to the high school students at Bainbridge Performing Arts.What he created was an entirely original production called Circus Dell ‘Arte, based on the commedia dell’arte that mixes elements of music, dance, puppetry and movement into a physical dialogue.Everything is done through visual image and sound, said Fogell. Its more of a theatrical event than a play.Two showings of the performance will take place on Aug. 4 at 4:30 and 7 p.m. at the BPA Playhouse.”
