REPORTER CENTRAL KITSAP
KITSAP WEEK: Local woman inspired by mosaic to start business
FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2015 | Vol. 30, No. 24 | WWW.CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM | 50¢
IN THIS EDITION
Kitsap tourism outlook is bright, director says Tourism worth $500-$700 million to Kitsap County, provides 6,700 jobs BY CHRIS TUCKER CTUCKER@CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM
NEWS Visit Kitsap presents 2015 Tourism Vision Awards
SILVERDALE – Twenty years ago tourism wasn’t much of an economic factor on the Kitsap Peninsula, said Patricia Graf-Hoke, executive director of Visit Kitsap Peninsula. Kitsap was seen as a gateway to other places, she said, not as a destination
unto itself. But “that’s changed,” Graf-Hoke said, in part due to the growth of the Puget Sound region. “We have really, truly become a major destination.” “It’s estimated that the tourism industry in Kitsap County is $500$700 million dollars. It’s responsible for about 6,700 jobs and it is a growth
version of an “I-5 corridor” industry,” she said. where tourists would cross the Graf-Hoke spoke about the Tacoma Narrows Bridge or take outlook for tourism in 2015 at a ferry ride to Kitsap as a lonthe Silverdale Beach Hotel on ger-term vacation destination. March 12. Kitsap had a lot to offer, GrafLeisure travel and lodging Hoke said, “especially in regard has increased in Kitsap, as has to our natural resources.” competition with other Puget Encouraging tourists to cross Sound areas for tourist dollars. Graf-Hoke the Tacoma Narrows Bridge Graf-Hoke said Kitsap residents needed to work hard to make sure was necessary because the ferries are potential visitors knew about what often packed during the summer. Graf-Hoke said the most successKitsap had to offer. Graf-Hoke said some Kitsap folks SEE TOURISM MILLIONS, A9 have envisioned creating their own
Education, ferries, guns among town hall topics More than 100 gather to pepper legislators with questions
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NEWS County violated former deputy fire marshal’s veterans employment rights
BY CHRIS TUCKER CTUCKER@CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM
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OPINION Higher minimum wage misses the target
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SPORTS Local hoop stars to play in WSGBCA game
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Chris Tucker / staff photo
Rep. Drew Hanson, Rep. Sherry Appleton and Sen. Christine Rolfes, from left, speak with more than 100 residents at a “town hall” meeting at the Jenne-Write Administration Center in Silverdale March 14. The trio represents the 23rd legislative district.
SILVERDALE – Highways, ferries, education and firearms were among the topics of discussion at a “town hall” meeting with legislators representing the 23rd district March 14. Around 100 people filled a meeting room at the JenneWright Administration Center in Silverdale to listen to state Sen. Christine Rolfes and state representatives Sherry Appleton and Drew Hansen. The trio took questions on a variety of subjects: • McCleary the biggest issue for state Rolfes said the biggest issue SEE TOWN HALL, A9
West Sound Alliance aims to improve traffic flow BY CHRIS TUCKER
CTUCKER@CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM
More than $100 million worth of possible transportation improvements including a Belfair bypass, improvments to State Route 305 and SR 16 were discussed at a recent Kitsap Business Forum meeting. John Powers, executive director of the Kitsap Economic Development
Alliance, said the highway and infrastructure package was being considered by the state legislature now. The $100 million worth of projects in the Senate Transportation Package as of March 4 was part of a larger, $470 million, 30-point wish list of transportation improvements that the West Sound Alliance felt could improve traffic flow. WSA is a partnership among 19
jurisdictions and economic development organizations in Mason, Pierce and Kitsap counties that supports transportation improvements in the west sound region. Powers said transportation investments were needed to support the area’s shipbuilding, technology and other industries and make sure the region remains economically vibrant. Improved traffic flow was the key to
that aim. Over 60,000 people commuted to and from the west sound on a daily basis, Powers said, many of which work at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, which employs one third of the maritime workers in the state. About 40,000 of the commuters are commuting away from Kitsap County SEE WEST SOUND ALLIANCE, A9
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