REVIEW BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
THE BARD BENEATH THE BOUGHS: Shakespeare play comes to IslandWood. A20
FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 | Vol. 113, No. 30 | WWW.BAINBRIDGEREVIEW.COM | 75¢
Market has Island welcomes brush with new police officer controversy over Oral-B commercial BY HENRI GENDREAU AND RICHARD D. OXLEY Bainbridge Island Review
BY RICHARD D. OXLEY Bainbridge Island Review
A national leader in oral hygiene is visiting Bainbridge this week, and so far the company thinks the island is a community it can really sink its teeth into. But the idea doesn’t seem so fresh to some islanders. Representatives of Oral-B were present at the farmers market on Saturday, July 20. It was just one island stop for the company that is filming material on Bainbridge to promote a new Oral-B toothbrush. The visit, however, brushed some locals the wrong way. Enough chatter mounted over the week that the issue was raised at the council’s Wednesday meeting. Some complained the farmers market should solely promote local offerings, and not national products. “It’s our local market, and corporations have plenty of avenues to sell their goods,” said Councilwoman Debbi Lester. “This is one of the few places that we have.” “A challenge has been that we don’t have enough market space for all the people who want to participate,” she added. “For a corporation to come in, make a donation, and move people aside, well,
When a two-alarm fire gutted the upper floor of a Hidden Cove Road home earlier this month, Bainbridge Island’s newest police officer wanted to help the family recover. Within days of the inferno, officer Erik Peffer walked into the office of Police Chief Matthew Hamner and asked him if he had 10 minutes to spare. “I said ‘No, I got to go,’” Hamner told a crowd gathered at city hall Wednesday during a swearing-in ceremony for Peffer. “He said, ‘OK, can you give me five?’” Hamner recalled. Sighing, Hamner accompanied Peffer down the block to the Streamliner Diner. “In officer Peffer’s hands were two bags of gifts for somebody on the island who was affected by the house fire,” Hamner said. “They had lost several items, their children had lost several items. Several of the officers gathered supplies together and bought gift cards with their own money. He walked in there and handed her both bags. And he reached into one and took out this stuffed animal,” Hamner said. “She broke down in tears.”
Richard D. Oxley / Bainbridge Island Review
Dee McComb discusses the issues with her supporters.
Richard D. Oxley / Bainbridge Island Review
Robert Townsend chats with islanders after Tuesday’s forum.
Henri Gendreau / Bainbridge Island Review
Bailey Shay, 8, places a Bainbridge Island badge on her father, Erik Peffer, the newest member of the island’s police force as Peffer’s wife Jennifer watches. The homeowner’s son had lost his favorite stuffed animal in the fire; a monkey. Peffer’s young son had the same stuffed monkey at home, and they decided to donate it. “I tell you that story because that’s the kind of officer we have sworn
in today, and we should be extremely proud,” Hamner said. Peffer took his oath Wednesday evening and his daughter Bailey Shay, 8, pinned his new badge on his lapel. SEE OFFICER, A30
SEE BRUSH, A9
Council candidates tackle big issues at candidates forum BY RICHARD D. OXLEY Bainbridge Island Review
It wasn’t quite 30 minutes or less, but it was close. City council candidates delivered their best answers to questions cooked up by local citizens at a forum Tuesday, and dished out why they should earn islanders’ votes. Approximately 25 people gathered at city hall for the forum showcasing southislanders Dee McComb and Robert Townsend. The
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event itself lasted just over 30 minutes. It was hosted by the League of Women Voters and co-sponsored by the NAACP and the Bainbridge Island Historical Society. Initially, the forum was planned for three candidates. Bob Bosserman threw his hat in the ring earlier this summer, but bowed out and endorsed Townsend for the position. SEE FORUM, A30