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Port Orchard
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2012 n Vol. 121, No. 12 n www.portorchardindependent.com n 50¢
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
Big bang for bay street
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shot in three of her home’s windows. Cronan, who lives on the 200 block of Flower Meadows Street in Port Orchard, said she believed the attack was part of an ongoing dispute with Keehn, whom she alleges has been running a hair salon out of her home without a business license and in defiance of a city “stop-work” order. Keehn, 30, said she filed for permission from the city of Port Orchard to operate a hair salon out of her home on the 2300 block of Flower Avenue soon after pur-
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▼ Matthes, Garrido advance in SK commissioner race; Dalton, Danielson in judicial contest. By CHARLIE BERMANT
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TIM MATTHES
JEANETTE DALTON
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
BRUCE DANIELSON
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
Staff Writer
Expectations were turned on their head in two Kitsap County political contests during Tuesday night’s primary election, as the perceived front-runners came in third and were disqualified in their respective races. Republican Tim Matthes drew the most votes in the South Kitsap commissioner’s race, followed by Democrat Charlotte Garrido. Monty Mahan, who was the first to declare for the seat and earned the endorsement of local mayors, came in third (See related story, page A3). SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
4DIPPM EJTUSJDU MPPLT UP CBMBODF JUT CPPLT Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
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By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
and pension rates along with inflation as issues. In addition to the money saved on custodians, Patton said the district will dip into its reserve fund for $1.72 million. She said that’s not all bad because the district saved more than it anticipated in its last fiscal year, which ends Aug. 31. Patton said they also will save through not filling other vacant positions in the district, and through cutting expenses on supplies. The board unanimously adopted the budget. Patton warned in previous meetings that the “hard decisions” likely won’t end SEE SCHOOL, PAGE A2
activities she reported as stemming from Keehn’s attempts to operate a business out of her home. Weaver said following an April 11 hearing with the city’s Hearing Examiner, certain conditions were placed on Keehn’s permit to mitigate Cronan’s concerns before she would be allowed to operate her business. “(Keehn) has addressed all but one of those conditions, with the last being the letter from the (Kitsap County) Health Department,” Weaver said, explaining that Keehn’s current sewer facilities are
SEE NEIGHBORS, PAGE A2
SEE FENCING, PAGE A9
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Opinion Robert Meadows Sports Gardener Joe
SEE MARKETPLACE, PAGE A9
Inside this edition
he genesis of his introduction to the sport is difficult to pinpoint. Tom Martin, who runs Kitsap Fencing Center in Port Orchard, said it might have started when he was a student in the early 1990s at Olympic College. As he navigated through the course catalog, he noticed a listing for fencing. An avid baseball and football fan, Martin was intrigued by the sport that is one of a quartet featured in every modern Olympic Games.
Staff Writer
The South Kitsap School District is a little closer to closing its $2.9 million deficit for the upcoming school year. Terri Patton, assistant superintendent for business and support services, said at Wednesday’s school board meeting that the district won’t replace five full-time custodians who left the district after the last school year. She said that will save the district $250,000. Patton said the deficit stems from unforeseen circumstances when the district presented its last levy to voters in 2004. She cited escalating teacher salaries
chasing it last spring. City Development Director James Weaver confirmed that Keehn received a conditional-use permit to operate a onechair hair salon out of her home, which he described as “pretty innocuous” and something that doesn’t typically reach “the level of intensive use,” as far as impacts on the neighborhood are concerned. However, since November of 2007, Cronan has filed multiple complaints with the city regarding traffic, noise and other
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
Staff Writer
Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business. By JUSTINE FREDERIKSEN
Staff Writer
Tensions between two Port Orchard neighbors that erupted after one attempted to open a home business last year led both women to head down to the Kitsap County Courthouse Monday and file restraining orders against each other. Shelia Cronan, 49, said she filed a restraining order against Amber Keehn after returning home from a camping trip Aug. 17 and discovering pellets had been
SOUTH KITSAP’S SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION SINCE 1890
Local fencing instructor passes on his love of the sport
By Brett Cihon
Samadpour, a successful microbiologist with Iranian origins, took a liking to Port Orchard’s historical waterfront years ago, spending $3.7 million in buying 1.37 acres of Bay Street real estate. But instead of turning Bay Street into a vibrant marketplace, many of his buildings — including 715 Bay St. — have long sat vacant. But that doesn’t mean the landlord has totally given up on downtown, Ryan said. After a couple of false starts,
Genesis with a point
Don Ryan’s plans for a public marketplace
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
Cody Wright from Milford, Utah, got a mouth full of mud and a zero score after falling off Strawberry Delight in the Saddle Bronc Riding competition Wednesday night at the Kitsap County Stampede. The fair runs through Sunday. Veterans legislation ❚ pg. 11
In your name, the legislative results on veterans issues
But, the obscurity of the sport in the United States quickly became an issue. Martin signed up for the class each quarter he attended OC – and every time, the course was canceled because of insufficient registration. Martin, 38, was undaunted. When he transferred in 1993 to Central Washington University, where he studied English and anthropology, he again saw an opportunity to take up fencing. Registration at CWU was not a concern, but the sport’s novelty created challenges in Ellensburg, as well.
Senior Reporter
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April 2012
A Sound Publishing Monthly Magazine
Samadpour’s help
Don Ryan wants to see foot-traffic on Bay Street. He wants restaurants. He wants bars and bustling retail stores. Ryan, the President of the Port Orchard Bay Street Association, wants to see a lively downtown. And he has an idea to make it happen. “Our town has been dying for years,” Ryan said. “If it’s not revitalized it will continue to die. This plan has the power to completely change downtown.” Since January, Ryan, 45, has quietly worked to bring an open-air public market to downtown. The market would occupy the 8,000 square-foot building at 715 Bay St. Previously Slip 45, plans have the building undergoing a complete remodel to turn the greyand-drab into a vibrant marketplace housing a permanent seafood vendor, a beer tasting bar and 15 other market booths. Resembling a smaller version of Pike Place Market,
Top, fencing instructor Tom Martin coaches students through a practice bout Tuesday at his Port Orchard fencing studio. Right Spencer Goodin works on his point accuracy with a tennis ball drill. Far right, Instructor Tom Martin works with Spencer Goodin on his Sbout skills and foot work.
Community Effort
In your name
Ryan said the PO Public Market would operate 360 days a year and employ 50 to 60 people. Ryan hopes to have the market open to the public on July 1. Ryan admits that such a plan for a downtown notorious for it’s slow moving, eternally for-rent nature, might sound far fetched. But he has help. Influential help. Ryan said he has secured up to $300,000 from absentee Port Orchard landlord Mansour Samadpour for building renovations. “Mansour is a true entrepreneur, an investor,” Ryan said. “He believes this is a viable option for downtown.”
Greg Skinner/staff photo
Wolves Win Opener over Gig Harbor Page A10 Harper Pier Veterans Life
Veterans Life