INSIDE Mayor honors veterans, advocate with awards A4
SPORTS Hayley Romo displays all-around excellence A34
Fathoms O’ Fun Festival
Come and be part of the fun! Parade, Concerts, Activities, Vendors, Food & More
Port Orchard on the Waterfront June 28 - July 4 A special supplement of the Port Orchard Independent
EXTRA Fathoms o’ Fun Festival special section inside
Independent Port Orchard
FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2014 N VOL. 123, NO. 21 N WWW.PORTORCHARDINDEPENDENT.COM N 50¢
South Kitsap Skate Park celebrating one-year anniversary Sunday
Y
The South Kitsap Skate Park has become a popular attraction for skaters of all ages and genders during the past year. Dannie Oliveaux/Staff Photo
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX Editor
oungsters and teenagers, along with people of all ages, will get a chance to show off their skating and bicycle skills during the first anniversary celebration for the South Kitsap Skate Park. The South Kitsap Skate Park Association (SKSPA) will host the event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 22 at the south side of the South Kitsap Regional Park, 2841 SE Lund Ave. About 2,000 people are expected for this year’s event. SKSPA President Leslie Reynolds-Taylor said there will be about 20 vendors at Sunday’s event. “There will be six restaurants, along with other vendors,” Reynolds-Taylor said. Ian Wilhelm, SKSPA vice-president, said a safety class will be held for people of all ages, demonstrations from Seattle youngsters and local professionals. There also will be competition during a skate jam and skate swag. “We’re trying to get the Red Bull team here, but it is still up in the air,” Wilhelm said. “But there will be local riders coming out from all over the area.” Funds from the event will be used to purchase two sets of aluminum bleachers for people to sit on, especially parents whose children are skating at the park. Reynolds-Taylor said each set will cost about $2,600. “The whole point of this event is to raise money for bleachers,” said Wilhelm. “The whole community needs to come out and support these kids. The community needs to know what is going on
here and the kids need for involvement in the community.” He said because of the skate park, youngsters and teens alike have progressed in their skateboarding skills. “This event is also a chance for the skate park kids to ‘show off,’ ” Wilhelm said. Wilhelm said a pair of bleachers would suffice parents who come to watch their children skate. “The day of the event, there will be no place for people to sit down,” added Reynolds-Taylor. “Everybody will be standing up on the skating surfaces and surrounding areas.” Reynolds-Taylor and Wilhelm agreed if the group was able to get enough prize money it would attract more competitive pro skateboarders. Local restaurants slated as vendors are MoonDogs Too, Buck’s A&W, Robert Earl Lighthouse, Carter’s Chocolate, Tommy C’s and Whiskey Gulch Coffee Co. Some of the vendors signed up for the event are Finger Duke SEE SKATE PARK, A32
Completion date for pier moved back Clean up date for Harper Pier scheduled for July 12 By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
Editor
Visit Kitsap Peninsula Executive Director Patty Graf-Hoke and board member Diane Robinson presented a regional marketing plan to the Port Orchard city council during the June 17 work study session. “The paradigm that we have been using for funding regional tourism marketing really hasn’t been working,” said Graf-Hoke. “It hasn’t
been working for a long time.” She said the VKP wants to shift the paradigm. Graf-Hoke said VKP proposes partnering with and helping rather than applying for lodging tax funding as a separate entity and competing with other groups. “We believe its time that tourism regional and tourism marketing were treated as other economic development entities and funded accordingly,” she said.
Graf-Hoke noted to the council that tourism-related industries in Kitsap County have grown $100 million in the last 10 years. “It is now worth $352 million and generates more than $25 million a year just in lodging,” she said. “And $258 million in food services and beverages.” Graf-Hoke said among 39 counties in the state, Kitsap County is ranked fifth in increased lodging. “We really believe it’s time
to recognize that regional tourism marketing is part of economic development,” she said. “It’s time that we start engaging with the city councils.” Graf-Hoke said each year, VKP has to apply for lodging tax money for each municipality and the county. “I’m having to make a strategic presentation to people and that’s not where their expertise is,” she noted. “I do it once a year and I only get 10 minutes, opposed to
a w
R
o p w p
se G
g
m li m
to
Editor
a The September deadline for completion of the new Harper Pier has been moved back because of “W n a backlog of orders for steel. Port of Bremerton CEO Jim Rothlin made the announcement about the delay during the Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce luncheon on h m June 12. “At this time, the completion date is dependent on the timing of the large quantity of steel fab- “B ricated and delivered. We will know more once th we learn from the contractors of their ability to get the pilings ordered and transported to the lo site,” said Rothlin. “Our current expectations for completion are sometime between October and it p January.” Rothlin said the latest completion date would ju be January and the Friends of Harper Pier were to OK with the delay on the $1.4 million structure. “Being late is better than not at all,” Rothin said. Rothlin said bids notices are due in June 25. “By the times weWright get thefrom bidsMilford, we should be got C Cody Utah, a o able to start construction on July 7 when the fish Saddle Bronc Riding competition Wed SEE PIER, A32
a
Inside
e e
Regional tourism marketing plan presented to city council By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
o m
A Section Editorial A4 Robert Meadows A4 & Heard setting down with an execu- Scene National Parks Service. A5 A6 tive committee or economic Sports “Last year, with Port development committee of Legal Orchard mainly Notices and A7 the city and ask, ‘How can we Mary Bremerton, Colbornwe were de-fundA7 partner with you, how can Obituaries ed at the 11th hour and A8 that
th
e
fu
we interface and compliment Inserts: caught Fred the attention of the Meyer, RiteAid, what you are doing?’ ” National ParkBest Service, said Office Depot, Buy,” Staples, Graf-Hoke said there are a Wal-Mart, Graf-Hoke. “We almost lost Valassis lot of exciting things happenwith recycled paper and ing in the Kitsap Peninsula Printed SEE COUNCIL, A32environmentally friendly soybean oil-based ink. and that a more interactive partnership is needed with the leadership of the cities. She said VKP is in the process of getting a destination status for the county from the
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890