Reporter Central Kitsap
kitsapweek week D e c . 2 8 , 2 012 — J a n . 3 , 2 013
LIFE AND CULTURE
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Beauty awaits you
Our state park system turns 100 in 2013. And you’re invited to a year-long celebration of Washington’s great outdoors.
KITSAP WEEK Check out the special section Inside
— Story, pages 2-3
week’s
Coffee Oasis Poulsbo.
(360) 930-0134.
highlights
The performance will include rock classics and a set of originals.
STEPPENWOLF REVISITED
The group — formally known for copyright purposes as Steppenwolf Experience Magic Carpet Ride Featuring Former Members of Steppenwolf — will perform at One Ten Lounge, 18881 Front St., Poulsbo. Tickets are $15. Call
Only 100 advance tickets will be sold; a limited number of tickets will be available at the door. A ticket gets you a discount on a room at the Poulsbo Inn. One Ten Lounge owner Don Ryan will provide free shuttle service to and from the inn.
POULSBO — The Steppenwolf Experience, comprised of former members of Steppenwolf, will perform New Year’s Eve in a benefit for
The group may be joined by keyboardist Goldy McJohn,
a founding member of Steppenwolf whose early career included stints with the Mynah Birds. Local harpist Amanda Grazadzielewski will join the group for “Stairway to Heaven” and other songs. Local guitarist Nick Klein will also join the group on stage. For more New Year’s Eve events, see page 3.
Keyboardist Goldy McJohn, a founding member of Steppenwolf, may join Steppenwolf Experience at a benefit performance Dec. 31 at One Ten Lounge in Poulsbo. Goldy McJohn
65,000 circulation every Friday in the Bainbridge Island Review | Bremerton Patriot | Central Kitsap Reporter | North Kitsap Herald | Port Orchard Independent
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012 | Vol. 28, No. 16 www.CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.com | 50¢
Crosswalk flags signal need for a solution Kitsap County sheriff and school superintendent take action after accident
“If we wait until some kid gets hurt then I think we failed,” Boyer said. Boyer and Lynch said they felt the reflective crossing flags were an inexpensive way to bring awareness to both pedestrians and drivers. The bright orange flags work as a signal to drivers of a pedestrian’s intent to cross. By WES MORROW Small plastic containers, formerly garbage Staff Writer cans from Boyer’s garage, were attached to Central Kitsap School District the crosswalk signs on either side of the Superintendent Greg Lynch and Kitsap road. Pedestrians hold up the flag to alert County Sheriff Steve Boyer installed make- drivers and then cross when traffic has shift crossing flags at the Central Valley stopped, placing the flag in Road and Conifer Drive the bin on the other side of crosswalk near Fairview the street. Junior High Thursday “If we wait until some Lynch said the schools morning. will do some work educatkid gets hurt then I A 17-year-old girl was hit ing students about crossing, a week earlier while cross- think we failed.” but for the most part they ing the same corner, and Steve Boyer expect students will instinca 12-year-old boy was hit Kitsap County Sheriff tively know what to do. there three years prior, both Boyer and Lynch said on their way to school. that at this time, there are Pedestrian injury is a leading cause of no plans to install flags at any other interinjury or death for children one to 14 years sections. old in the United States. An estimated The two said they do hope, however, that 13,000 children were injured in 2009 and the idea catches on. The flag installment was 244 died after pedestrian-vehicle collisions, as much an attempt to bring awareness and according to Safekids.org, a child safety to inspire possible action in the future as it non-profit. was a safety measure for one crosswalk. Crosswalk visibility and driver negligence David Beil, the district’s community relacombine to form a dangerous hazard for tions director, said a group of students children who walk to class in school zones at Olympic High School is looking into every week day. purchasing reflective tape and giving it to Boyer said they probably didn’t have all students to put on their backpacks. the necessary permissions to install the flags, but felt something needed to be done See FLAGS, A7 without delay.
Wes Morrow/Staff Photo
Kitsap County Sheriff Steve Boyer and Central Kitsap School District Superintendent Greg Lynch install a flag holder.
Autism center brings hope to families By WES MORROW Staff Writer
“We have a little boy. He’s 3. He’s been here for about six months. His mom called the other day in the evening and she’s like, ‘He said his name. I said, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘My name’s Caleb.’ ” Alicia Hartnett, Olympic Peninsula Autism Center’s program director, told this story in early December. “She was so happy because he’d never said his name before,” Hartnett said. Olympic Peninsula Autism Center is a nonprofit operation providing therapy for the west side of Puget Sound out of its facility in Silverdale. The autism center passed its one year anniversary in November. It was founded last year by John and Sara Hall. The Halls have two young daughters, both diagnosed with autism. Before
Wes Morrow/staff photo
Emma, one of the kids at the Autism Center, surprises a therapist on Wednesday. opening the center, they were taking their daughters to Kirkland multiple times a week for treatment.
Despite a clear need for autism services in the area, Kitsap County lacked many resources, until the Halls started Olympic Peninsula Autism Center. The center officially merged with Easter Seals Disability Services in September, providing the stability and financial resources of the much larger nonprofit. Olympic Peninsula uses Applied Behavior Analysis, a system where therapists tailor programs individually for each child in an attempt to help improve behavioral issues. The therapists determine goals for each child. They then meet one-on-one with the child and work to improve those specific outcomes. For some kids the goals may be as basic as speaking. A common problem for children with autism is trouble speaking or initiating conversation, even with their own parents.
Many of these kids are nonverbal. They won’t speak at all. Hartnett told the story of one of these kids. He went to therapy multiple times a week at the center. Eventually, through therapy, his therapists were able to get him to open up during sessions, but as soon as he left, the silence would return. His mom could hear him in the room talking. His mom “was so frustrated. (She said) ‘I know he can do it,’ ” Hartnett said. Then one day, the work paid off. He started talking not only in sessions, but to his mother as well. “Now he is just a chatterbox,” Hartnett said. For some of the kids, the goals aren’t so overwhelming as saying their own names or talking. Some of the kids just need to focus on social interaction, such as initiating conversation or knowing what is and isn’t okay to ask people. Caleb Yost, 12, was officially diagnosed with autism when he was 6 years old. He See AUTISM, A9