Reporter Central Kitsap
100 YEARS Port turns 100 Celebrate the Port of Bremerton’s anniversary In Kitsap Week C E L E B R A T I N G
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EARLY DAYS BREMERTON WATERFRONT
The Port of Bremerton had humble beginnings.
As the story has been passed down through generations, it is said that the city of Bremerton had inadvertently built portions of its wharf, an important commercial and transportation hub, over privately-owned tidelands. The property owner’s threatened lawsuit prompted a signature-gathering campaign by citizens to put the formation of a port district within the city of Bremerton’s boundaries on the ballot in the hopes of resolving the dispute. Many changes within the Port District have transpired these 100 years and the Port is looking forward to recounting and celebrating its history with the public.
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013 | Vol. 28, No. 52 | www.CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.com | 50¢
County commissioners approve sales tax to fund mental health tal illness. “They were willing to sort of put themselves Kitsap County com- on the line to really missioners voted unan- truly bare their souls for imously Monday eve- all the public inspection ning to and that institute takes a lot a .01 perof guts,” cent sales he said. ta x for Gelder mental said that health and he did substance a lot of abuse prodeliberagrams. tive soul T h e searchordinance ing before goes into reaching effect Jan. his deci1, 2014, sion to and is vote for e x p e c t e d Robert Gelder the tax. to raise “What about $3 million per it boils down to is year. The commission- everyone’s lives have ers’ approval of the tax been touched in some increase followed a pair way, shape or form by of public hearings and mental health or menmany months of leg- tal illness,” he said. “It work by supporters. may not be ourselves Commissioner Rob personally. It may be a Gelder, prior to casting family member, a friend his vote, talked about a and acquaintance or public hearing last week somebody down the in Poulsbo that left him road from us. But our more emotional than he lives are touched. Our thought he would be. community is touched He noted that nearly by this issue and I think every speaker shared a this is a really imporpersonal connection to mental health and menBy KEVAN MOORE
kmoore@soundpublishing.com
See TAX, A17
Silverdale Farmers Market draws to a close
Leslie Kelly/ staff photo
Titus, left, and Justus Bakke enjoy a stroll through the Silverdale Farmers Market Tuesday. Tuesday was the final farmers market in Silverdale. Among those who came out one last time was Kirsten Bakke of Silverdale, who brought her boys, Titus, 1, and Justus, 4. “We came out to get some fresh vegetables for dinner,” she said. She’s made it out to about half the markets this season. Monica Phillips, who helps organize the markets, said this season was better than last because the weather was better. Merchant Jody Eichel agreed. She and her dog, Rocky, were out with Eichel’s handmade quilts, playmats, blankets and bibs on the last day of the market. Meanwhile, Dave Osborn enjoyed some cinnamon bread while manning his Big Bear Smokehouse jerkies booth which he ran this summer at the market.
Leslie Kelly /staff photo
With fall arriving, pumpkins and squash were among the vegetables available on the last day of the Silverdale Farmers Market. Some weeks brought more than 35 vendors.
Committee looking at ideas for new Silverdale library By Leslie Kelly
lkelly@soundpublishing.com
When Terri McKenzie was growing up in the Central Kitsap area, her trips to the public library took her to the Sylvan Branch of the Kitsap Regional Libraries in East Bremerton. Today, her daughter often uses the Silverdale Library because it’s closer to home and more convenient. “Her dream job would be to go to work there,” McKenzie said of her daughter.
But McKenzie, a Silverdale CPA, knows that the Silverdale library leaves much to be desired. Her personal opinion is that Silverdale needs a new library. But she’s committed to listening to residents of the area as she serves on a committee that’s looking at what’s next for the Silverdale Library. The committee was formed from a meeting earlier this month between members of the Central Kitsap Community Council, the Friends of the Silverdale Library and officials of the Kitsap Regional
Libraries. The committee’s work is to raise awareness about the need for a larger library in Silverdale and to determine if there is the support and funding to build one. “Silverdale deserves a new library and can make one happen,” said McKenzie. “But what we want to do is to figure out if the community wants one.” The current library is about 4,800 square feet, and is owned by the regional library district. It was originally owned
by Friends of the Silverdale Library, a non-profit group. But when Navy Base Kitsap Bangor was built, there were impact fees from the federal government that were made available to help with the additional use the library would have. Those funds, however, could only be given to a public agency or government body. So the Friends group deeded the library to KRL for a dollar. Using those impact fees, the library was expanded to its current size. It was originally just a 16 by 16 foot Navy sur-
plus building. After a library levy failed in 2007 and again in 2010, the Kitsap Library District didn’t have the money to make any improvements or expand the Silverdale Library. Following the two failed levies, the Alford Group, was hired in September 2012, and it was determined that there wasn’t enough support in Silverdale to justify a community fundraising effort. The consultant also said any future See LIBRARY, A17