Friday, January 24, 2014 • Bainbridge Island Review
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Around the Island DOWNTOWN
T&C shares plans for remodel project Renovations to Bainbridge Island’s Town & Country Market will begin in full force this February. To kick off the makeover, shoppers are invited to learn more from the developers themselves. The market is hosting a Remodel Open House from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30 at Waterfront Park Community Center. Residents are encouraged to drop by, see plans and ask questions about the future of the grocery store. The Winslow Way market will remain open during the remodel project which is scheduled to begin in February and last 14 months. Shoppers may have noticed the beginning stages of the renovation have already begun at the front of the store. Work is under way to move the beer and wine, bulk and health and body care departments upstairs. In February, the downstairs section of the store will be cleared of all retail sales, and the restrooms will be accessed through the downstairs exterior doors. Simultaneously, the construction company will set up office and partition the store parking lot between Bjune Drive and the market for storing materials. Construction workers and store employees will park offsite. Company and store officials will be available during the open house to answer questions on the schedule of construction and how business is expected to continue in the meantime. The renovations will be a dramatic change for the historic building. The 56-year-old store on Winslow Way was the first location for Town & Country Markets which now extends throughout the Puget Sound region at four other locations. The company was founded by islanders and brothers John and Mo Nakata and Ed Loverich. It remains a family-owned company. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ TandCMarket. A website will also be launched in February devoted to progress on the remodel. BIFD
Fire department gets glowing review The Bainbridge Island Fire Department has once again received a perfect audit from the state. The Washington State Auditor’s Office recently
released its audit of the fire department, and the review included accountability and financial audits that spanned the time frame of Jan. 1, 2011 through Dec. 31, 2012. Auditors found no problems. “In the areas we examined, the district’s internal controls were adequate to safeguard public assets. The district also complied with state laws and regulations and its own policies and procedures in the areas we examined,” the audit said. The fire department received more than $7.9 million in revenue for 2011 and $7.4 million for 2012 and had a workforce of 39 full-time employees during the audit period. The audits examined the fire department’s financial condition with an emphasis on the accuracy of the financial statements and other issues such as cash receipting, payments and expenditures, vehicles, credit cards, pharmaceutical inventories and ambulance billing. The state conducts an audit of the Bainbridge department every two years, and state officials noted that the agency has had problem-free audits for more than two decades. “The department is proud to have over 20 years of state audits without any significant findings. We strive hard to diligently manage the public’s money and it is encouraging to have this affirmation from the State Auditor,” said Fire Chief Hank Teran. COBI
City hosts workshop on Wing Point Way The city of Bainbridge Island will host a public workshop in February to discuss the Wing Point Way non-motorized improvements project. Pre-design alternatives for the project will be displayed and discussed by the city’s Public Works Department and HDR, Inc., the engineering firm selected to complete the project. City officials said the city has already received a federal grant for $303,000 to pay for design and permitting activities and officials anticipate applying for additional funds to offset the cost of construction. Work on Wing Point Way will stretch 3,300 feet along the busy roadway, from Ferncliff Avenue to Park Avenue. Design and permitting for the project is scheduled for 2014 with an anticipated construction start in 2016. The workshop is scheduled from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4 at the Wing Point Golf and Country Club located at 811 Cherry Avenue. The city is encouraging community members to attend the workshop to learn more about the design alternatives as well as public and private property matters related to the project.
Photo courtesy of Town & Country Market
Town & Country Market in Winslow as it looked on opening day in August 1957. Work has started on a major makeover of the Bainbridge grocery store, and representatives of the market will host an open house on the remodel next week at Waterfront Park Community Center. COMING UP
Open house at Madrona School Madrona School at Eagle Harbor Congregational Church will fling open the doors for an open house from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 1. Parents can come meet teachers, see the classrooms and ask questions about Waldorf education. Madrona School offers unique programs for grades one through eight, kindergarten, preschool and parent-child classes. For more information, visit www.madronaschool.org. CONFERENCE
Experts talk at End-of-Life program Professionals and experts in end-of-life care, planning and resources will host the conference “End-of-Life: Respecting Choice” next month at the Waterfront Park Community Center. Our culture struggles with preparation for life’s end. How we want to die represents the most important conversation America isn’t having. Speakers at the conference will examine multiple perspectives on endof-life issues, including a myriad of medical, legal, financial, familial and spiritual considerations. The event is 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. The cost is $40 and covers all-day conference attendance, keynote and breakout speakers, community wall and reference library, all materials (including legal documents), a continental breakfast, plus lunch and afternoon snacks. Scholarships are available. Register at 206-842-1616 or
online at biparks.org. For registration purposes, this event has a reference activity number of 162416-01. PET FOOD DRIVE
Storage war helps Humane Society Bainbridge Self Storage, Bainbridge North Storage and Pacific Storage in Poulsbo are at war with Reliable Storage Bainbridge and Reliable Storage Poulsbo to see who can collect to the most pet food in a fundraiser to benefit the Kitsap Humane Society. Donations will be accepted at all locations until Thursday, Feb. 13. In addition to the bragging rights and the eternal gratitude of all the hungry animals in need, the winner will receive a box of Valentine chocolates purchased by the losing team. “Of course, it is all in good fun,” said J.M.Danielson, manager of Bainbridge Self Storage. “The best result of this battle is the donations to benefit the Kitsap Humane Society.” For more information about the Kitsap Human Society, visit www.kitsap-humane.org. WINSLOW
as well as a pile splice that removed deficient materials. The city’s public works departments have scheduled further bridge maintenance this year. Future closures, however, will be avoided as much as possible, officials said. CALL FOR HELP
Land trust looks for more volunteers Bainbridge Island Land Trust is looking for new volunteers to help monitor and steward the island’s conservation lands. Stewardship volunteers contribute their time and energy to the land trust while seeing some of the most important natural areas of the Island. As a trained steward, volunteers help fulfill the land trust’s responsibility of maintaining conservation values on properties. This year, the annual stewardship training will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8. If you are interested in becoming a stewardship volunteer, and for more details about the training, call Molly Esteve at 206-842-1216 or email molly@bi-landtrust.org. VISITORS WELCOME
Waterfront Park foot bridge reopens Catholic school plans open house The foot bridge connecting Waterfront Park to Harborview Drive is now open, city officials announced Wednesday. Repairs on the bridge began late December after safety concerns forced its closure several months earlier. Improvements to the walk way include installation of a new section of pile jacketed in concrete to reinforce the structural integrity of the bridge,
St. Cecilia Catholic School will hold an open house later this month for families with children in preschool through the eighth grade. The open house is 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26. Visitors are welcome to come tour the school and meet St. Cecilia teachers. For more information, visit www.saintceciliaschool.org.