A cache of assault rifles, ammunition and other weapons valued at $32,000 was stolen from a Sunrise Drive home sometime Monday.
Missing weapons include four American-made assault rifles, five semi-automatic handguns, an automatic shotgun, and a 19th-century flintlock rifle inlaid with sterling silver and brass.
With the exception of the antique rifle, “These are guns that the military or police would typically carry,” Bainbridge Police Detective Scott Anderson said.
The home arsenal was known to police before the theft, but because the assault rifles were manufactured prior to restrictive legislation, their possession is legal. So-called “pre-ban” assault rifles – which accept larger magazines, and can be readily modified to fully automatic firing – typically fetch a higher price at resale than newer models, Anderson said.
The home was entered by force while the owner was at work, according to reports. The weapons were locked in a heavy-duty gun safe, which was pried open.
Also stolen were night-vision goggles and telescopic sights; 5,000 rounds of ammunition of various types; two two high-end Stihl chainsaws; and two computer game systems – an Xbox and a Nintendo GameCube.
– Douglas Crist
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***Furnishings, items stolen
An island couple returned from a two-month vacation Friday to find a guest house at their Agatewood Road home bereft of much of its furniture and other items.
Several pieces of rare and custom furniture also were stolen from the main house, Bainbridge Police Detective Scott Anderson said, including an enormous leather sofa with a high, tooled back.
“It certainly would have been a handful even for two people to move,” Anderson said.
Other missing items included a large decorative statue of an English butler, a television, a jewelry box, kitchen items, a painting, several rugs, a bed and bedding, and cash. The owners had yet to provide a dollar estimate of the items, and it was unclear when the house had been entered.
The owners had been away on vacation most of this year, save for a brief visit in February.
At least one of the three buildings in the family compound was left unlocked, police said.
– Douglas Crist
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***Team T&C back in race
After a one-year hiatus that saw hundreds of individual efforts, Team Town and Country will reassemble for this year’s Race for the Cure, June 1 in Seattle.
“It’s just a very different feeling when it’s a team,” said Kay Jensen, promoter for the event that raises funds for the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation.
The race this year moves to a new venue, Seahawks Stadium, to be the terminus for walks and runs along downtown Seattle streets and the viaduct. Events will include a one-mile walk, 5K women’s run, 5K wheelchair race, 5K co-ed run, 5K co-ed walk, and 1K “tot trot.”
The race is expected to draw 30,000 participants. The goal for Team Town and Country – routinely the largest group fielded for the annual event – is 1,200.
Team Town and Country signups will run 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 26-27 and May 3-4, at T&C in Winslow and at Central Market in Poulsbo.
A double-sized quilt, handmade by Susan Calhoun, Carol Latham and Town and Country employees, will be raffled off to raise funds for the cause. Tickets are available for $1 at checkstands.
Race for the Cure registration is $25 in advance, or $30 day-of-race. All proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation to fight breast cancer.
Team Town and Country will gather on the 7:05 a.m. ferry on race day to get to the stadium in time for the early events.
Information and online registration is available at www.seattleraceforthecure.org. Those who register online will have to pick up their T-shirts at the event.
– Douglas Crist
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***Get down to Nitty Gritty
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Co-founders John McEuen and Jimmy Ibbotson will make an encore Northwest appearance in a benefit concert at 7:30 p.m. April 19 at the Playhouse.
The concert will support the humanitarian mine action work of Clear Path International, Kids First Vietnam and PeaceTrees Vietnam. All three organizations have offices on Bainbridge Island.
The concert is the musicians’ second on the island thanks to promoter, coordinator and fan Wendy Tyner. After visiting such classics as “Mr Bojangles,” they will dig into the historical aspects of roots country and bluegrass with select material from three “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” albums.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door on the day of the event. Information: 842-2521 or 780-5964. Tickets are also available on line at www.clearpathinternational.org/news/archives/000062.php.
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***Egg hunts
An Easter Egg Hunt for children up to 11 years old is set for this Saturday at Waterfront Park.
Sponsored by the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association, the annual event includes a 4-H petting zoo, visits and photographs with the Easter Bunny, and eggs filled with prizes and candy.
The petting zoo will be set up from 10:30 a.m. to noon, while the egg hunt begins at 11 a.m. for three age groups – 0-3 years, 4-6 years and 7-11 years.
A golden egg will be hidden for each age group. Hunters are asked to bring their own basket or bag in which to keep their finds.
Photos with the Easter Bunny start at 11:30 a.m. at the Town and Country coffee atrium.
Information: 842-2982.
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***Island trees to get trimming
Puget Sound Energy crews will be working on Bainbridge Island in coming weeks to keep trees and branches away from power lines, the company said this week.
The work is part of PSE’s regular four-year scheduled maintenance effort to reduce tree-related power outages.
Starting May 27, line-clearance crews from Asplundh Tree Expert Co., under contract with PSE, will begin work in the Winslow and Murden Cove areas. The work also will follow the main transmission lines throughout the island, including those along the highway.
“This scheduled tree maintenance will help preserve the electric service reliability that our Tree Watch program has brought to Bainbridge Island residents and businesses,” said Don McDaniel, PSE community relations manager for Kitsap County, in a release.
Puget Sound Energy will notify customers with a letter at least two weeks prior to the beginning of circuit work.
Information: Janet Brown, PSE consulting utility forester, (360) 475-7066 or toll-free at (888) 225-5773, ext. 7066.
