Reporter Central Kitsap
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2012 | Vol. 28, No. 5 www.CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.com | 50¢
kitsapweek week O c t o b e r 12 -18 , 2 012
LIFE AND CULTURE
week’s
highlights
“The Who’s Tommy” opens today at BPA.
Bainbridge Performing Arts
‘THE WHO’S TOMMY’ OPENS AT BPA BAINBRIDGE — “ The Who’s Tommy,” based on the classic rock opera by Pete Townshend, opens today and continues through Oct. 28 at Bainbridge Performing Arts, 200 Madison Ave. North. The rock opera album was produced in 1969. The musical film “Tommy” was produced in 1975, starring Roger Daltrey in the title role with Ann-Margret, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Elton John and Jack Nicholson. The film was nominated for two Oscars and won a Golden Globe. The Broadway version opened in 1993, winning five Tony awards. The Bainbridge production is directed by Teresa Thuman, with musical direction by Corinna Lapid Munter and choreography by Jessica Low. Opening night reception is today at 6:30 p.m. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets: $27 for adults, $22 for seniors, and $19 for students, youth, military, and teachers. Info: www. bainbridgeperformingarts. org or (206) 842-8569.
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Maestro Alan Futterman conducts the Bremerton Symphony Orchestra. Bremerton Symphony Orchestra
The Bremerton Symphony prepares for its 70th season of performing some of the most beautiful music ever written. — Cover story, page 2
Kitsap Week The Bremerton Symphony is set to celebrate its 70th season Inside
65,000 circulation every Friday in the Bainbridge Island Review | Bremerton Patriot | Central Kitsap Reporter | North Kitsap Herald | Port Orchard Independent
Kitsap County’s forest policy receives support Stewardship policy draws many comments in favor of the forest plan BY KEVAN MOORE kmoore@soundpublishing.com
A public hearing Monday night on Kitsap County’s proposed Forest Stewardship Policy elicited several comments from citizens in support of the plan. Arno Bergstrom, the local director of Washington State University extension programs in Kitsap County, said that thinning about 200 acres per year of the county’s 6,000 acres of forests should create enough revenue to support the program and leave some money left over to put back into parks and recreation. Bergstrom has been involved in crafting the stewardship policy for over two years and talked about why it’s impor-
tant. “Some of the volunteers would say we need to do it for our community,” Bergrstrom said. “We need to provide the highest quality recreation experience and wildlife habit possible and we can do better.” Thinning operations in the years to come would focus on the county’s heritage parks which include Coulter Creek at 1,195 acres, Newberry Hill at 1,100 acres, Banner Forest at 35 acres and North Kitsap at 443 acres. Frank Strickland, who is a steward at the Newberry Hill Heritage Park, said he got involved with forest stewardship based on his specific interest in wetlands
and the 27 bodies of water at the park. “Without healthy uplands, we don’t have any wetlands in the lowlands, so I had to get up to speed on this,” he said. Strickland said he wasn’t an early fan of the forest stewardship program, but since then has become a Washington state stream steward and native plant advisor. He’s also received training from the Department of Ecology and Washington wetlands rating systems, both in Eastern and Western Washington. “So, I’ve learned a lot and I think this is important and the science is good,” he said. “Like a lot of citizens we’re always nervous when we’re dealing
with the government so we’re counting on everyone here.” Art Ellison, the president of the Hansville Greenway Association, said that he hopes that the stewardship plan allows his group to continue to manage the area exclusively as a wildlife corridor and preserve and said that commercial thinning or logging is not compatible with wildlife, biodiversity, environmental education and recreation. “Generally, we think the plan that was presented is quite good,” Ellison added. Ron Cleveland, a West Bremerton resident, strongly recommended that commissioners approve the plan. “I’m excited to see the county consider such a new and creative and forward looking policy,” he said. “I think that this is really something that needs to be done to improve our parks.” Cleveland noted that he took a stream steward class and recommends that See FOREST, A15
Bremerton police officer cleared by prosecutors
Increased cleanup costs create confusion
By KEVAN MOORE
By KEVAN MOORE
kmoore@soundpublishing.com
kmoore@soundpublishing.com
A Bremerton police officer who fired his weapon four or five times at a suspect in early August is back on the job following an investigation into the shooting by the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office and a review of that investigation by the prosecutor’s office. Sgt. Billy Renfro has returned to duty following a decision by prosecutors that his decision to fire his weapon at a Taco Bell robbery suspect was justified. “In short, basically what we found is that Sgt. Renfro’s actions were consistent with the defenses lined out in (state law),” Kitsap County Prosecutor Russ Hauge said. “His actions were consistent with the obligations of a police offi-
Bremerton city councilors unanimously approved a $10,000 change order for ongoing restoration work at the former Chevron property at Evergreen Rotary Park. The move got a lot of attention because the Chevron cleanup site has been designated as the future home of a Kitsap 911 Memorial that will feature steel from the World Trade Center. Memorial supporters ponied up a $4,500 donation to the city to use as a local match to a Department of Ecology grant to help clean up the site, but city officials have promised that no local taxpayer dollars will be contributed to the memorial. The change order to a Talbot Excavating contract comes after
See OFFICER, A15
Kevan Moore/Staff Photos
Fourth-grade students at Clear Creek Elementary School have studied birds for the last couple of weeks and got a chance Tuesday to build their own nests. The students then tested the nests’ ability to hold the weight of five eggs and withstand a “wind storm.” Seen here are Haley Spade, above, and at right are Markell Harris and Marius Bendolph.
See CLEANUP, A15