HERALD NORTH K ITSAP
Friday, January 20, 2012 | Vol. 111, No. 3 | WWW.NORTHKITSAPHERALD.COM | 50¢
kitsapweek Robert Burns Night J a n u a r y 2 0 - 2 6 , 2 012
Flip Over For KITSAP
Classifieds REAL ESTATE
NOW
LIFE AND CULTURE
Kelly Groh of the New Year Beer Festival promotes the event on YouTube.
BREMERTON’S NEW YEAR BEER FESTIVAL JAN. 22
BREMERTON — The New Year Beer Festival welcomes 15 local craft breweries to the waterfront Jan. 22, with proceeds benefitting Coffee Oasis’ community outreach programs. The event is presented by Fritz European Fry House and a consortium of West Sound brewers. The festival will showcase premium, handcrafted beers from 15 area breweries, including a new Doppelbock from Battenkill Brewing Company, a new Double Black Imperial Stout from Der Blokken Brewery, and award-winning selections from Hale’s Ales, Silver City Brewery and other participating breweries. The New Year Beer Festival will be held at the Kitsap Conference Center, next to the ferry terminal in downtown Bremerton. Two tasting sessions are planned: noon to 3 p.m., and 4–7 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Cost of entry includes eight samplesize drink tickets and a commemorative glass. A limited number of tickets are available; for tickets and details, visit www. newyearbeerfestival.com. “Puget Sound has one of the nation’s fastest growing and most diverse craft beer communities, and this festival is an
You don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy the music, the poetry (or the haggis) BY ERIN JENNINGS Kitsap Week
I
f “Auld Lang Syne” has been referred to as “the most famous song that no one knows the words to,” then is the songwriter just as obscure? Not at all. Robert Burns, the Scottish poet and lyricist who penned the famed song that is sung—or at least muddled through— each New Year’s, is celebrated annually around his Jan. 25 birthday. Robert Burns Nights are held across the globe, including here in Kitsap. Burns, who lived in Scotland from
Above, celebrants enjoy a traditional Scottish dance at Robert Burns Night in 2010. The anniversary of the poet’s birth will be celebrated in Bremerton and Poulsbo. Background, the best-known portrait of Burns, by Alexander Nasmyth, 1787. Contributed
1759-1796, is known as “Scotland’s favorite son.” The farmer turned poet wrote about daily life on the farm, relationships, and Scottish fare. He turned many of his poems, like “Auld Lang
Syne,” into songs. Other popular works by Burns include “A Red, Red Rose” and “To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest with the Plough.” See BURNS, Page 2
See BEER FEST, Page 3
A section of the Bainbridge Island Review | Bremerton Patriot | Central Kitsap Reporter | North Kitsap Herald | Port Orchard Independent
Storm brings chills and thrills
KITSAP WEEK AND USA WEEKEND: In this edition TAX TIME: Helpful information, pages A8-9
NKSD may close an elementary school By KIPP ROBERTSON krobertson@northkitsapherald.com
POULSBO — After years of rejecting the idea, the North Kitsap School Board is considering closing an elementary school. By the end of January, the North Kitsap School Board and district administrators plan to name a committee to discuss the possibilities of closing a school. The closure ■ 54.67 of would be a measure poll responto counteract declindents say ing enrollment and the “Close an reduction of state and elemenfederal money providtary school”: ed to the district. North Kitsap No vote was needed Vikaneer, for Superintendent North Richard Jones to form KitsapHerald. the committee. He said com/Blogs. he “has been given clear direction to move forward” with the plan by the school board. According to documents available on the district website, elementary schools are 894
ONLINE
Tim Kinkade of Kingston performs a board grab after launching off a jump near the Poulsbo Adventist Church and School, Wednesday. Groups of people around North Kitsap flocked to local slopes to enjoy fun in the snow during a storm that left schools and businesses closed. Kipp Robertson / Herald
North Kitsap slowed by snow, ice; few injuries reported on roads By MEGAN STEPHENSON mstephenson@northkitsapherald.com
P
OULSBO — Statistically, this year’s “Snowmageddon” had less impact than the storm that hit Kitsap in November 2010. This year, schoolchildren and adults alike frolicked in the winter wonderland of North Kitsap, as this week’s snowstorm turned side roads into sledding lanes. Schools and most government offices were closed Wednesday and Thursday.
The November 2010 storm, which hit just before Thanksgiving, snarled traffic and caused widespread power outages. North Kitsap lucked out so far, with no reported power outages or major crashes from this latest storm. Law enforcement is crediting the safe road to the vigilance of residents. “I think with the schools closing and staying closed and the [Navy] bases closing, it cuts down on the amount of traffic,” Poulsbo Deputy Police Chief Wendy Davis said
Thursday. “I think people have been heeding the message: don’t go out unless you absolutely have to.” With fewer cars on the road, Kitsap Towing also saw less demand for service. Owner Ron Madler said his call volume is between 35-40 percent lower than the November 2010 storm. During that storm, the company responded to more than 300 calls in five days, according to previous Herald reports. Madler said the reduction in call volume was largely
PHOTO COVERAGE ■ North Kitsap residents enjoy winter weather: Photo pages, A10-11 ■ Kipp Robertson slideshow and reader photos: NorthKitsapHerald.com
because of the time of day this latest storm hit, along with
See SCHOOL, Page A2
So far, ‘4 or 5’ applications for NK schools superintendent By KIPP ROBERTSON krobertson@northkitsapherald.com
POULSBO — The North Kitsap School District is not the only district searching for a new superintendent for next year. More than four other districts around western Washington, including Port Townsend, are on the hunt. The longer it takes for the district to select candidates, the fewer candidates the
See SNOW, Page A3
The Voice of North Kitsap since 1901. E-mail cdano@northkitsapherald.com for convenient home delivery
See SEARCH, Page A14