Reporter Central Kitsap
Friday, June 20, 2014
WWW.BREMERTONPATRIOT.COM | WWW.CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM
Page A15
The classes of 2014
LOTS TO CHEER High school grads get their diplomas... Photos on PAGE 15
Staff photos by Seraine Page, Leslie Kelly and Kevan Moore
FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2014 | Vol. 29, No. 37 | WWW.CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM | 50¢
Harrison workers’ supporters come out in force BY KEVAN MOORE KMOORE@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
There wasn’t enough room in his office and the hallway didn’t seem right. So, Harrison Medical Center CEO Scott Bosh received about 30 labor, faith and political leaders in the conference room of the hospital in Bremerton Monday afternoon. The meeting with Bosch, wearing his ever-present yellow smiley face button on the lapel of his suit, came on the eve of two days of federally mediated negotiations between the hospital and some 700 Professional and Technical workers represented by UFCW 21. The meeting also took place less than one week after the workers voted to authorize a one-day strike. “Amen,” Bosch said Monday when Bremerton City Councilwoman Leslie Daugs, spearheading the delegation, read part of one letter urging the hospital and workers to come to a fair and satisfactory contract. Another section of that same letter, signed by various union leaders, business owners, pastors, Daugs and fellow city council member Dino Davis, and various other community members, states: “We are hurt when those we rely on for quality
care are not getting the respect they deserve. Healthcare workers are part of our community. They are in our PTAs, they coach our kids, they are members of our congregations, they are our neighbors, our families. They are us. That is why it is our sincere desire for both parties to work out a satisfactory contract.” Daugs, a member of SEIU Local 925 whose district includes the hospital in Bremerton, told Bosch that her support for the workers is personal. “These people have taken care of many members of my family and that is why this is very dear to my heart,” she said. “My father’s been here a few times. We’ve delivered children in this hospital. I think these hospital workers deserve a fair chance and we need to make sure to work for them because it’s not just them, it’s the patients as well.” Bishop Larry Robinson said he was attending the meeting as a concerned citizen and not in any official capacity via Emmanuel Apostolic Church or its board. “I’m here because I believe in the workers, but I’m also here because I know you to be a fair man,” Robinson told Bosch. “I’ve known you many years and I believe you
Kevan Moore/staff photo
A canvasser hands Harrison Medical Center CEO Scott Bosch about 1,000 signatures from community members expressing support for the hospital’s 700-plus Professional and Technical workers. will do everything that you can to make things the way they should be.” Bosch said both sides wanted to
get back to the bargaining much sooner than this week, but were held up by the schedule of a federal mediator.
“We knew we needed mediation SEE HARRISON, A13
CK grads start a new chapter Eagles are ready to take flight BY SERAINE PAGE
BY SERAINE PAGE
SPAGE@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
After walking across the stage with tassels swinging and gowns swaying, each of the 354 Central Kitsap High School graduates proved they were ready to walk into the real world, diploma in hand. The auditorium was packed last Thursday with nearly 2,800 friends and family of the graduates at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. Marching into the auditorium, those sitting in the bleachers hooted and hollered as their graduates walked in pairs, carnations in hand. Once the crowd settled, the school’s top graduates took to the stage. SEE CK GRADUATION, A13
SPAGE@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
Seraine Page/staff photo
Two CKHS seniors get ready to get their graduation on.
Now that the Klahowya Eagle graduates have received their diplomas, they can glide along into the winds of the world. When they reflect back, they’ll remember being surrounded in an auditorium by those who pushed them out of their nests and into their futures. A sea of green gowns, the 152 graduates listened to speakers last Friday and remembered favorite moments throughout the year, some with tears in their eyes before even crossing the stage. Keigen Langholff, salutatorian, thanked God for giving him opportunities, including trials. He also gave gratitude to
Seraine Page/staff photo
Graduating senior Ben Smith brought the house down when he sang “Everything Must Change” at commencement. his “amazing” girlfriend of three years, Brooke Bennett. Valedictorian Alijah Hawley thanked “brothers from another mother, and sisters from another mister.” He smiled when he talked about teach-
ers and mentors who had assisted the class over the years, and told his SEE KLAHOWYA, A13