REPORTER CENTRAL KITSAP
IN THE FIGHT: Local group helps women battling against cancer IN THIS EDITION
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2014 | Vol. 29, No. 52 | WWW.CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM | 50¢
Streissguth and Wolfe vie for open Kitsap seats BY RICHARD WALKER RWALKER@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
Chris Tucker /staff photo
A student crosses Central Valley Road near one of the new “knock-down” pedestrian signs outside Fairview Junior High School early Tuesday morning.
New safety measures set for crosswalks BY CHRIS TUCKER CTUCKER@CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM
Motorists cruising through the half-mile-long gauntlet of 11 crosswalk signs and four crosswalks along Central Valley Road near Fairview Junior High School now have one more type of pedestrian safety gear to remind them to keep an eye out for children: two kid-sized “knock-down” signs at
the two Conifer Drive crosswalks. The roadway has long been a trouble spot for pedestrian traffic, especially students. The signs, which can bend if struck, are one of the improvements made to the stretch of Central Valley Road between Fairgrounds Road and Foster Road this school year to boost pedestrian safety. Kitsap County identified some
areas of the road that could be made safer and worked with the Central Kitsap School District to make the changes. “We’re putting them in the roadway with the county’s approval during times when kids are crossing and then we remove them when we’re not using the crosswalk,” Joe Vlach, director of operations for the Central Kitsap SEE CROSSWALKS, A12
This is part of a series of Q&As with candidates for local office in the Nov. 4 general election. This Q&A: Linda Streissguth and Ed Wolfe, candidates for Kitsap County Board of Commissioners, District 3. Kitsap County commissioners approve laws and manage the county budget. Commissioners are responsible for county policies relating to community development, county finance, environmental protection, human services, parks and recreation, public safety and health, solid waste, transportation, and other duties as directed by the state Legislature. Commissioners are elected to four-year terms. LINDA STREISSGUTH Residence: Bremerton Occupation: Kitsap County commissioner, District 3 Education: B.S., business administration, City University, Bellevue; certification in management studies, City University, Bellevue; designation American Institute of Certified Planners, American Planning Association Relevant experience: Kitsap County commissioner, January 2014 to present. Q: What are the top issues in this campaign?
Streissguth: What I’ve heard consistently from constituents across our community is that building a thriving economy with living-wage jobs and preserving our quality of life are the two most important issues for Kitsap County. Providing local employment opportunities is an important factor in addressing the increase in poverty and homelessness we are seeing within our community. A thriving economy requires both attracting new employers and supporting existing businesses while diversifying our economy to ensure sustainability for the long-term. Qualityof-life issues include making certain we have safe, healthy neighborhoods, resources and community-based solutions to address the rise in mental health and substance abuse problems, SEE COMMISSIONERS, A9
Girl’s ‘Corn Dog’ drawing becomes one-of-a-kind glass art BY KEVAN MOORE KMOORE@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
Silverdale’s Christina Wentworth, 11, had a dream come true this past Sunday at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. Sitting in the front row of the museum’s “Hot Shop” on Sunday, Christina was transfixed by a group of artists turning one of her drawings into a beautiful piece of glass art. Accompanied by her mom, Amy, and younger brother, Jason, Christina watched artists Niko Dimitrijevic, Gabe Feenan and Sarah Gilbert create a glass version of her drawing “Corn Dog.” Dozens of other museum visitors also sat in stadium seating mere feet from the more than 2,000-degree ovens, blowtorches and other tools the artists were using. A large screen showed video close-ups of the work-in-progress and an emcee narrated the unfolding action.
“Corn Dog” is one of many drawings Christina has submitted in her more than 20 trips to the museum this summer, hoping for a chance to see the drawing come to life in the form of a one-of-a-kind handblown glass sculpture. Most of Christina’s drawings have combined an animal and some form of food. Examples include a peanut butter and jelly fish, a polar-pear, an alli-tator and a pie-thon. “Corn Dog” features a corn husk that gives way to a dog. When asked how many drawings she has submitted for the ongoing contest, Christina’s brother pipes up. “We’ve lost count,” said Jason, who later that afternoon dropped off four of his own drawings for consideration. Christina says her favorite piece of glass at the SEE CORN DOG, A12
Kristina Hansen /MOG photo
Inspired by Silverdale resident Christina Wentworth’s drawing, artist Niko Dimitrijevic melts a thin rod of black glass to apply nails to “Corn Dog.”
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