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PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Port Townsend-Jefferson County’s Daily Newspaper November 30-December 1, 2012 | 75¢
$28.4 million budget set for ’13 Approval expected Dec. 17 by Port Townsend council more positive signs.� The City Council is expected to approve a $28,370,795 budget PORT TOWNSEND — The with some minor revisions at a city faced several obstacles in the meeting set for Dec. 17. development of the 2013 budget, but the panic brought about by a Voter measures $200,000 shortfall in October has Although final decisions have passed. “We’ve turned the corner,� said not been made, voters may see financial measures on ballots in City Manager David Timmons. “Things are getting better, 2013. Those could include an $8 milfrom my perspective,� he said. “We are starting to see a lot lion library bond issue and perBY CHARLIE BERMANT PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
haps one requesting the creation of a municipal parks district that not only will help pay for parks but also be a funding source for the public pool, according to Mayor David King. The city also would like to ask voters to approve city annexation into East Jefferson Fire-Rescue — which would create a new property tax. But that probably won’t happen in 2013, King said. “We need to wait until the property valuations in the city are in line with those in the county,� he said. “If the values aren’t in line, then the city voters aren’t getting value for their tax dollars.� The original plan was for the
council to consider approval of the 2013 budget Dec. 3, but that will most likely be postponed due to the medical leave of Budget Director Michael Legarsky and the vacation schedule of acting budget director Corena Stern. Stern returns from vacation Monday and may not have time to add final numbers to the budget prior to the meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall, 540 Water St. “Everything’s done, but right now, I don’t have anyone who can input the changes properly,� Timmons said. Part of the source of Timmons’ optimism is what he sees as an increased interest in downtown
development and expansion by developers.
Infrastructure grant Also adding to the bright picture is a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for infrastructure improvements, which Timmons learned about this week. In addition, announced layoffs were not as extensive as expected. Two of the threatened jobs will be restored. Those laid off now include one engineer, one engineering support person, two parks employees and one pool employee. TURN
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Santa to help PT light its tree Haller Fountain is the site of ceremony Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
PORT TOWNSEND — Santa will arrive by firetruck Saturday for a treelighting ceremony at Haller Fountain. Riding in a vintage truck to the ceremony, he is expected to arrive at 4:30 p.m. at the fountain at Washington and Taylor streets. The city’s Christmas tree this year is of a species never used before: a 20-foot redwood. Its donor, Marga Smith, had planted the tree in her front yard when it was only a few feet high, and it grew to take over her yard, she told Main Street Executive Director Mari Mullen. City parks workers and volunteers put up the tree at Haller Fountain on Monday, and volunteers decorated it Tuesday. On Saturday, before Santa arrives, Wild Rose
Chorale will sing Christmas carols in the streets from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Santa will be available to hear children’s wishes for Christmas starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Jefferson County Museum of Art & History at 540 Water St. Many shops plan late hours Saturday, with some staying open until 7 p.m., according to Port Townsend Main Street. “Port Townsend is a great place to shop,� Mullen said. “We are a destination point for unique gifts.�
Sweepstakes Shoppers will have their last chance to enter the Hometown Holiday Sweepstakes at 32 businesses. The sweepstakes, which is sponsored by First Federal, will close at noon. Sweepstakes winners — who must be pres-
LINDA SUTTON/FOR PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Averi Campbell shops with her dad, Brian, on Water Street in Port Townsend last weekend. Hometown Holiday Sweepstakes entries still are available at downtown businesses. Participating in the sweepstakes are About Time, Abracadabra, April Fool & Penny Too, Artisans on Taylor, Bickie’s
ent to win — will be announced at 5 p.m. The prizes are two $500 shopping sprees in local gift certificates.
Cotton Casuals, The Clothes Horse, Conservatory Coastal Home, Daily Bird Pottery, Elevated Ice Cream & Candy Co.,
Earthenworks Gallery, Expressions, Face of Grace and Frameworks. TURN
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Timber House eatery is back Reopening is called ‘huge for Quilcene’ BY CHARLIE BERMANT PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
CHARLIE BERMANT/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Olympic Timber House manager/chef Steve Serbousek works in the kitchen at the Quilcene restaurant that reopened this week.
2013
QUILCENE — The Olympic Timber House, an iconic steakhouse that has been closed for a little more than a year, reopened this week to the delight of the local population. “The fact that it has reopened is huge for Quilcene,� said Linda Herzog, an organizer of Quilcene Conversations, formed to come up with projects to enhance the community. “People know Quilcene because of the Timber House,� she said. “They come here for the atmosphere and for a good dinner. “It needs to be open because it
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shows off Quilcene.� The restaurant, a rustic building that was constructed in 1977, is located at 295534 U.S. Highway 101 about a mile south of Quilcene. The building is owned by Paul Schmidt of Quilcene, who had sold it but has taken over the property through repossession from its recent owner, Rohn Rutledge of Kingston. Rutledge was fined $774,000 after pleading guilty to filing false tax returns to cover up the felony theft of sales tax in what the state Department of Revenue said was the largest sales-tax fraud case of its kind in the area and perhaps even the state. Schmidt, who received the foreclo-
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While he comes to the restaurant often and has a regular table, Schmidt has turned over day-to-day operation of the restaurant to manager/chef Steve Serbousek. “The winter isn’t really the right time to open a restaurant, but it gives us an opportunity to train the staff before the busy season,� Schmidt said. While the restaurant is known for its prime rib and fish and chips, Schmidt said it’s the building that draws people in. TURN TO RESTAURANT/A6
96th year, 288th issue — 4 sections, 42 pages
2B694840
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Chef managing restaurant
INSIDE TODAY’S PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Slide-Out, Tons of Options, Best Selling Model We Carry!
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sure deed Jan. 4, reinvested in the property and created a new company for management of the restaurant, Timber House LLC.
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