Patriot Bremerton
FRIDAY, march 22, 2013 | Vol. 16, No. 7 www.bremertonpatriot.com | 50¢
erin go bragh
ALOHA! New Hawaiian grill generating lots of buzz in Bremerton Page 14
Mayor backs foot ferry changes By KEVAN MOORE kmoore@soundpublishing.com
Wes Moorow/staff photo
Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent waves to spectators as she makes her way down Pacific Avenue on Saturday as part of the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. The parade began at 10 a.m. and was followed by Irish festivities and entertainment.
Cross-dressing theme day at high school raises concerns By WES MORROW wmorrow@soundpublishing.com
Dress like the opposite sex. That was the theme Wednesday at Bremerton High School for part of the school’s spirit week program. For some students at the school the biggest concern would be finding the funniest or most creative outfit, but for others the day might bring up a laundry list of potential issues. For many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students high school can be a trying time. Stereotypes can be hard to overcome, and on a day where those stereotypes are amplified the pressure can be even greater. “It sounds like a nightmare,” said Kathy Reim. “What kind of boundaries are they going to establish?” Reim is the Pacific Northwest Regional Director for PFLAG — Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. She said the theme concerns her, that it brings undue attention to gender stereotypes in an unproductive way.
“(PFLAG) deals with people who are being harassed around stereotypes,” Reim said. “Anything that makes that part of typical school behavior, from our perspective wouldn’t serve our families well or young people well.” Patty Glaser, Bremerton School District’s community relations director, said the district hasn’t heard any concerns regarding any of its spirit week programs or themes. “The students have not had an issue with it,” Glaser said. “In my conversations with the high school there have not been concerns raised internally.” According to Glaser students must still adhere to the school’s clothing policies during spirit week, and faculty and staff will be on the look-out for potential offenders. The staff members involved in the decision-making process at the high school are cautious and sensitive to potential issues, she said. According to the district all four themes of spirit week (nerd day, dress like the opposite sex day, throwback Thursday and class color day) are chosen
by the Associated Student Body — the student government. The themes are approved by Sandra Van Valkenburg, the ASB’s faculty adviser, before they’re made official. Calls and emails made to Van Valkenburg were not returned. Ian Sherman, the faculty advisor for Gay Straight Alliance at Bremerton’s Olympic College, said he isn’t familiar with the specifics of the high school’s event but the theme itself is worrisome. “I think the big thing here is intent versus impact,” Sherman said. “I have no question their intent was perfectly benign. I think the biggest question is the impact it’s going to have on the students.” Sherman said when he was in high school there was a Sadie Hawkins football game, where the cheerleaders dressed as football players and the players dressed as cheerleaders. It was always kind of mocking and silly and feminized, Sherman said. See UNITY, A13
Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent says she is open to reducing Sunday foot ferry service between Bremerton and Port Orchard during summer months in order to allow the boats to run a little later on Friday and Saturday nights. Under a proposal that Lent will take to the city council, summertime Sunday foot ferry service times would be reduced, but still cover the Sunday market in Bremerton between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. As things stand now, when it comes to Saturday sailings, the last boat leaves Port Orchard at 7:30 p.m. and leaves Bremerton at 7:45 p.m. On Fridays, the last boat leaves Port Orchard at 8:30 p.m. and the last boat leaves Bremerton at 8:45 p.m. Under the proposed changes, the boats could
run a couple extra hours on each of those nights at no additional cost to Bremerton, Port Orchard or the Port of Bremerton. “That way we’re not asking for more money, we’re just re-configuring,” Lent said. Backers of later runs on Friday and Saturday nights argue that expanded service will allow for more shopping and dining in downtowns on both sides of the water. The cities and the port each contribute $5,500 per year for Sunday foot ferry service between May and September ever since Kitsap Transit completely cut Sunday bus and ferry service in 2009. Kitsap Transit is not involved in the program other than allowing its contractor, Kitsap Harbor Tours, the use of its boats. “We do not offer any service on Sunday,” said Kitsap Tranist Executive Director John Clauson. “So, if there is service that See FERRY, A13
Marina marketing still an issue at Port of Bremerton By Leslie Kelly lkelly@soundpublishing.com
Business development and marketing initiatives offered last week by Bremerton Port’s CEO Tim Thomson met with lukewarm reactions from both the port commissioners and the public. Thomson presented a two-page business development initiatives plan at the commissioners’ meeting in which he highlighted things that could be done to turn around the port’s properties at the airport, the industrial park and the marinas.
“I think this is a good overview of what needs to happen,” said Commissioner Axel Strakeljahn, following the presentation. “But I want more detail. We need more specifics.” The plan was the result of a staff “brainstorming” session, Thomson said, and came about after Commissioner Roger Zabinski suggested a planning retreat for commissioners and staff. “These are initiatives and strategies to increase revenue at the port,” See PORT, A13