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Friday, October 11, 2013 • Port Orchard Independent
Shellfish harvesting closure due AWB names new president to high biotoxin concentrations BREMERTON — Marine biotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) have been detected at high levels in shellfish samples from the Miller Bay Marina located near Suquamish on Miller Bay in Kitsap County. As a result, the Washington State Department of Health and the Kitsap Public Health District have closed recreational shellfish harvesting for all species of clams, oysters, and mussels in Port Madison Bay and Miller Bay. The closure area includes all of Miller Bay, and Port Madison Bay from Point Jefferson south to Point Monroe on the north shore of Bainbridge Island to the Agate Pass Bridge, including all bays and inlets in this area. Samples of mussels collected on Oct. 7 from the Miller Bay Marina contained PSP toxin concentrations of 275 micrograms per 100 grams of shellfish tissue. Shorelines are closed to harvesting when toxin levels exceed 80 micrograms per 100 grams of tissue.
An existing biotoxin closure for butter clams and varnish clams remains in effect on Kitsap County’s eastern shoreline from Point No Point in Hansville south to the Pierce County line, including all shorelines on Bainbridge Island and Blake Island. Warning signs have been posted at public beaches alerting people not to collect shellfish from the closure areas. Shrimp and crab are not included in this closure, but crabs should be cleaned prior to cooking, and the “crab butter” should be discarded. Shellfish harvested commercially that are available in stores and restaurants are tested for toxins prior to distribution, and are safe to eat. Marine biotoxins are not destroyed by cooking or freezing and can be life-threatening. People can become ill from eating shellfish contaminated with the naturally occurring marine algae that contains toxins that are harmful to humans.
Symptoms of PSP can appear within minutes or hours and usually begin with tingling lips and tongue, moving to the hands and feet, followed by difficulty breathing and potentially death. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact a health care provider. For extreme reactions, call 911. In most cases, the algae that contain the toxins cannot be seen and must be detected using laboratory testing. Kitsap Public Health will continue to monitor shellfish at Kitsap County beaches, and notify the public if the levels of PSP toxin become unsafe in other areas. For current shellfish closures within Kitsap County, call our hotline number at 1-800-2BE-WELL, or visit us online at www.kitsappublichealth.org. For closures in other areas of Washington, call the Washington State Department of Health’s Red Tide Hotline at 1-800-5625632, or visit them online at www.doh.wa.gov.
JingleBell Are you interested in helping with this event? We’d love to have you on the team! Email Sheila at info@portorchardjinglebellrun.org to find out how you can help make the fun happen!
OLYMPIA — The Succession Committee for the Association of Washington Business has named Kristofer T. Johnson as the association’s next president and leader of the 8,100-plus member business organization. Johnson will succeed Don Brunell, who will retire from the association after 28 years as the leader of the state’s largest and oldest business advocacy group. Johnson will work closely with Brunell until the close of the 2013 calendar year and assume his new roleJan. 1, 2014. The committee conducted a nationwide search. Mel Russell, who led the succession committee, is the former CEO of Charter Title Corporation, a Vancouverbased company that covered eight counties in western Washington. He is also a partner in Aldercreek Vineyards, located in the Alderdale Horse Heaven Hills American Viticultural Area. Russell is chair of the AWB Board of Directors. In his message, Russell said, “After an extensive nationwide search, we are proud to announce the selection of Kris Johnson to lead AWB. He brings a strong blend of chamber and legislative experience here in Washington state. Kris is someone who understands the challenges and opportunities for AWB in the coming years.” “We are, at the same time, grateful for the work of outgoing president Don Brunell, whose work and long-time dedication provides a solid foundation on which to continue the growth and development of AWB. His experience at AWB and as a chamber
leader will serve the association’s membership well in advancing the chamber’s priorities,” he said. “Kris also understands the value and importance of a strong advocacy program, ensuring the right policies are in place to attract and retain private employers in our state who can create jobs and grow their businesses,” added Russell. Johnson brings more than 15 years of chamber leadership experience to his new role at AWB. He first joined AWB in 2010 to serve as the association’s vice president of operations, overseeing the organization’s financial, membership and events divisions, as well as the nonprofit AWB Institute, which focuses on workforce development and issues key to private sector employers. During his first year at AWB, Johnson coordinated the association’s reaccreditation effort. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce originally accredited the Association of Washington Business in 2005. When the chamber switched to digital accreditation, Johnson led the re-accreditation effort in 2011. Today, AWB is the only state chamber that has been accredited twice by the U.S. Chamber, both times with distinction. Prior to his arrival at AWB, Johnson served as president of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce in Minnesota where he led several key initiatives, including a bistate coalition to support a multi-modal transportation system. There, Johnson was part of the Twin Cities leadership team that helped secure funding for reconstruction
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of the I-35 W Mississippi River Bridge. In 2007, the bridge collapsed suddenly during the evening rush hour, killing 13 people and injuring 145 others. Brunell said transportation improvements, energy, workforce and education and health care will continue to be AWB priorities. “Kris is unique because he has first-hand experience working on those issues at the state and local level both here in Washington and back in Minnesota,” said Brunell. “He is widely respected by his peers across the state and nation and gained a wealth of experience while on staff at AWB. He can step in immediately and lead AWB forward.” Prior to his Saint Paul appointment, Johnson led the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce in Kennewick, where he served on the AWB Board of Directors. Johnson drew the attention of AWB leaders when he built and managed a comprehensive government affairs program that secured millions in state funding for transportation, higher education and other regional priorities. Energy is also a top AWB priority and Johnson has extensive experience dealing with hydropower, wind and solar electricity generation, smart grid and nuclear power according to Mike Schwenk, AWB SecretaryTreasurer. Schwenk recently retired from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland and worked closely with Johnson during his tenure at the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce. As a program manager for public affairs at the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce, Johnson led advocacy efforts on local ballot issues and developed a grassroots program. In 2003, he earned his professional certification (IOM) from the Institute for Organizational Management and in 2009, was named a Fellow for the Ford Foundation’s focus on Regional Sustainability Development. “I am excited, honored and humbled to serve in this new role for AWB. The association is widely regarded as the premiere business organization in Washington state,” said Johnson. Johnson and his wife, Katie, have three children and make their home in Olympia.