Friday, February 28, 2014 • Bainbridge Island Review
Around the Island ISLAND HISTORY
Nominations sought for Blakely Awards The Bainbridge Island Historic Preservation Commission is seeking nominations from the community for the 2014 Blakely Awards. Nominees are eligible in two categories: the Blakely Award for Project of Excellence and the Blakely Award for Preservation Leader. The Blakely Award for Project of Excellence recognizes an outstanding historic preservation or restoration project of significant value to the community. The Blakely Award for Preservation Leader is given to an individual or organization that has demonstrated community leadership in promoting historic preservation. Blakely Awards have been presented since 2011. Past winners of the Project of Excellence Award include Craig and Alice Skipton for the management of Hey Day Farm (2013); Michael Yates for the restoration of an early log home in the Wing Point neighborhood (2012); and the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District for the Yeomalt Cabin restoration (2011). Past winners of the Preservation Leader Award include Howard Block and CeAnn Parker, owners of Bay Hay & Feed (2013); Jeff and Jocelyn Waite, owners of the Harbor Public House (2012); and Steve Romein and Ty Cramer for the restoration of Lynwood Center (2011). Nomination forms for the 2014 Blakely Awards are available at Bainbridge Island City Hall, on the city of Bainbridge Island website and on the Historic Preservation Commission’s web page (under Government tab or alphabetically under Documents & Forms). Nominations will be accepted through March 28 and awards will be announced in May during Historic Preservation Month. For questions or more information, contact Heather Beckmann at hbeckmann@ bainbridgewa.gov or 206-780-3754. SCHOOL LEVIES
Election results certified as official The Kitsap County Elections Division certified the results of the Feb. 11 Special Election as official on Feb. 25. A total of 42,553 ballots were cast countywide in the election, which featured two school levies for Bainbridge Island voters, as well as levy propositions in Bremerton, Central Kitsap and North Kitsap. Voters approved all of the school levies on the ballot.
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Also on the ballot, but falling to defeat, was a proposition to enlarge the territory of the Port of Poulsbo. County elections officials pegged turnout at 38.9 percent of eligible voters. The final official numbers show both Bainbridge levies passing in landslide proportions. Proposition 1, the Educational Programs and Operations Levy, was approved with a 76.1 percent “yes” vote. Opposition was 23.9 percent. The final vote tally was 6,307 in favor, and 1,984 against. Proposition 2, the Technology Levy, was approved with 72.3 percent of the vote. The “no” vote was 27.7 percent. The actual vote count was 5,983-2,296. NEW HQ
Fire department, city ask for input The Bainbridge Island Police Department will co-host a series of three public outreach meetings with the Bainbridge Island Fire Department and MACKENZIE design firm to get input from residents on plans for a new public safety building. The city and the Bainbridge fire department have been discussing the possibilities for a joint-use facility since last year. Police have been anxious to move from their aging facility on Winslow Way, and the fire department has space limitations at their headquarters station on Madison Avenue. The first meeting in this series is scheduled at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 at Fire Station 21 at 8895 Madison Ave. City officials said the meeting include an update on the scope of services for the project and the general project schedule. In addition, there will be an opportunity for public questions and input. COBI
Briggs resigns from Harbor Commission George Briggs has resigned from his position on the Bainbridge Island Harbor Commission. Briggs notified Harbor Commission Chairman Dave Kircher of his decision to step down from the Position 4 seat late last week. In the email, Briggs said his work schedule was proving to be too much for him to continue as a commissioner. His resignation followed an earlier email from Kircher, who asked about Briggs’ absences at recent commission meetings. Briggs replied on Friday, Feb. 21 and explained why he had been missing at recent meetings, and added that he could no longer serve.
Cecilia Garza | Bainbridge Island Review
The Bainbridge Island Senior Center hosted a Hawaiian-themed fashion show at the Waterfront Park Community Center last week. With proceeds from the event benefitting senior programs, items from the senior center’s thrift shop were taken down the catwalk.
“I’ve gotten so busy in my day job here of late and have been traveling extensively so have been unable to attend. While I would love to contribute to the Island and the commission I am just not going to be able to fully commit to the commission with my current professional schedule,” Briggs wrote. “Again my apologies and I wish you all the best of luck,” he concluded. Briggs works as the vice president of field operations for Ozone International. He was appointed to the Position 4 seat by the city council in September 2013. ROTARY PARK
Park board to name playground Bainbridge park officials will consider naming the playground at Rotary Park at their next meeting. The board of the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 6 at Strawberry Hill Center. The agenda for the meeting is short. Park commissioners will also get an update on dog parks and a report from the district’s director. WSF
Seahawks fans fill ferries for celebration Nearly 12,000 walk-on passengers crowded aboard the Bainbridge ferry to Seattle on the morning of the victory parade and celebration for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks, according to Washington State Ferries. WSF earlier reported that Colman Dock in Seattle saw an unprecedented number ferry
travelers on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Ferry officials said earlier that nearly 40,000 customers went through Colman Dock in Seattle to join in the Seahawk festivities. The Seahawk celebration numbers easily dwarfed other busy days for the ferry system last year: • Mother’s Day, May 12: 15,579 • Independence Day, July 4: 14,365 • Average Wednesday for the middle of summer, July 17: 15,774 • Friday before Labor Day, Aug. 30: 16,021 • Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 27: 15,923 A breakdown of the walkaboard statistics from the day of the Seahawk victory festivities on Feb. 5 shows that much of the massive influx came from Bainbridge Island. Ferry officials said a total of 11,993 foot passengers departed Bainbridge for Colman Dock (eastbound), and 14,294 departed Colman (westbound) for Bainbridge on the day of the Seahawk celebration. 911
Faulty furnance draws firefighters The Bainbridge Island Fire Department was called to a home near Koura Road Tuesday afternoon on a report of a structural fire. The homeowner told fire crews she smelled burning and saw smoke filtering through the house. Police and fire units arrived at the house around 2 p.m. Tuesday and found a furnace to be the cause. “The furnace was pushing a little bit of smoke through the house,” said Assistant Chief Jared Moravec.
No fire was detected and emergency responders left shortly after. SPRITUAL GATHERING
Bahá’ís to host interfaith devotional An interfaith devotional is held at 7 p.m. on the last Friday of every month in the Fireside Room of the Waterfront Park Community Center. The focus is on the spiritual writings from many religions. All are welcome to come and share their thoughts on this month’s theme, love and unity. The devotional is sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Bainbridge Island. VINCENT ROAD
Parks to revise permit for dog park Plans have stalled for a new off-leash dog park at the former landfill on Vincent Road. City officials have turned the property permit back over to the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park and Recreation District for further review. At last week’s board meeting, district staff said the property permit was paid and submitted to the city earlier this year. The district received a letter Friday, Feb. 14, however, stating the permit was incomplete and would be considered pending until the district provides more information on the property. Included on the to-do list, city staff are requesting more data on the site’s storm water drainage, engineering plans for fencing and traffic studies on the surrounding area. The parks district must complete the additional requests by mid-April.