REVIEW BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
Friday, February 27, 2015 | Vol. 90, No. 9 | WWW.BAINBRIDGEREVIEW.COM | 75¢
BHS teacher suspended after claims of inappropriate behavior
Late bloomer Bainbridge woman discovers renewed strength in art of flower pressing
BY BRIAN KELLY
Bainbridge Island Review
BY SERAINE PAGE
Bainbridge Island Review
She recalls her mood being as gray as the Washington skies on a cold winter’s day. For some reason, Norimi Kusanagi couldn’t shake her feelings of depression as menopause slunk its way into her life a few years ago. It gripped her, often making her feel sick and not like herself. But a trip to Japan three years ago to visit her sister-in-law, Emiko, changed and enlightened her mind. A simple act she learned while visiting turned out to be a profound and life-changing catalyst for her. Nature, it turns out, can be a natural healer of depression. Kusanagi had never particularly cared for blooming buds while growing up in her native Japan — despite the common act of young girls learning ikebana or flower arranging — and quit classes for the art early on. Even after she married and became consumed by creating a Northwest/Japanese-style home and yard that featured a Zen dry rock garden, flowers were not even in the landscape plans. Flowers just never held her interest like they did for some people, she said. “I wasn’t really a flower girl at all,” she admitted. “I wasn’t into flowers.” Unlike Kusanagi, her sister-in-law enjoyed years of working on artwork with pressed flowers. After showing Kusanagi the process, she gave a flower press to her in hopes that she would pick up the skill with enthusiasm. She did. Once back in the states, the Bainbridge Island resident found herself wandering the streets of Winslow in the early mornings picking berries, flowers and weeds. Kusanagi said she pressed “everything” and admits that she messed up quite a bit. But the process of flower collecting turned out to be a soothing routine that she incorporated into her daily life — even on the darkest of days in the bitterly cold winters of Washington. The flowers somehow kept her spirit and health alive and well. The more she pressed, the lighter she felt, as though the
INSIDE: Just hanging at BIMA: A&E, A14
Seraine Page | Bainbridge Island Review
Local artist Norimi Kusanagi lays out samples of her cards in her Bainbridge Island home. Kusanagi learned the art of pressing flowers from her sister-in-law in Japan. Her pressed flower card art is now on display at the Bainbridge Public Library. depression, too, was seeping out along with the moisture in the flowers. “They’re so beautiful,” she said. “They lift up your mood. I like to share that healing element.” To ensure the beauty stays, Kusanagi photocopies each original card to have a lasting reproduction of her designs long after the flowers decay. The result often looks as though her cards are copies of hand-painted canvases where her flowers TURN TO PRESSING | A13
A teacher at Bainbridge High School has been placed on administrative leave and is being investigated for “inappropriate conduct” with a student, officials at BHS announced late Wednesday. BHS Principal Mary Alice O’Neill sent an electronic letter to parents at 7 p.m. Wednesday and said the allegations have been turned over to police. The school did not identify the teacher or provide any details about the gender of the student or the student’s age. Officials said school administrators found out about the allegations later in the afternoon on Tuesday, Feb. 24. O’Neill, in her letter to parents, said the school district would also hire an independent investigator to look into the claims. “While we are not authorized to provide specifics identifying either the student or the teacher, we can assure you that school and district administrators will fully cooperate with authorities on any investigation,” O’Neill wrote. “The Bainbridge Island School District is taking the allegations very seriously,” O’Neill added. “Because the incident involves members of our school community, any investigation may draw attention to our school. Situations of this nature can be upsetting to students and staff who hear about this at school, from friends or media. “In the weeks ahead, our staff will pay additional attention to students for any signs of distress. Counselors will also be available to speak with students and listen to their feelings and their concerns,” she added. Bainbridge Island Police Chief Matthew Hamner said police could not discuss the allegations because the investigation had just gotten started. “We made an initial report today and currently the incident, or incidents, are under investigation,” Hamner said late Wednesday. District Superintendent Faith Chapel said Thursday the teacher is on paid leave until the investigation is complete. The district will await the finish of the police investigation before deciding on its next steps. “They are in the driver’s seat,” Chapel said of the police department.