Bremerton Patriot, March 27, 2015

Page 1

PATRIOT BREMERTON

KITSAP WEEK: Cub Scouts speeding along with Pinewood Derby

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 | Vol. 18, No. 3 | WWW.BREMERTONPATRIOT.COM | 50¢

Linda Joyce ‘found the best in everyone’ Former YWCA director remembered for her laugh, love of life BY LESLIE KELLY LKELLEY@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM

BREMERTON — She was known as someone who never gave up on anyone or anything. Linda Joyce fought to help survivors of domestic violence. She fought to honor women and their achievements and she fought cancer to the very end, working through chemotherapy and several stays in the hospital. But Joyce succumbed to

Linda Joyce her battle with cancer March 22. “She was a fighter for what she believed in to the end of her life,” said her good friend Vivi-Ann Parnell. “We will forever keep Linda’s smile and laugh in our hearts and she will forever be missed.”

Parnell, who worked with Joyce on the board of the Kathleen Sutton Foundation, said Joyce had taught her compassion. “She had a contagious positivity,” Parnell said. “There was such an honesty ingrained in her. I always admire her positive look on life. Linda brought not only her experience and skills to the Kathleen Sutton Fund board, she brought her love for life, compassion, her dedication for the less fortunate in life and, last but not least, her humor.’ Joyce was 62. Her son was with her at the time of her death at Martha & Mary in Poulsbo, where she resided since February. Joyce was honored last June with an official retirement

party, attended by more than 200. It was there that Kitsap County Commissioner Charlotte Garrido summed up what many people think of when they think of Joyce. “It’s that laugh,” Garrido said. “We all love your laugh.” Garrido spoke about a time when she worked for the YWCA on Bainbridge Island and helped put together the plans for the Y-ALIVE domestic violence shelter. “Linda, you are a complete treasure,” Garrido said. “Every day each of us think about you. We love your sense of sisterhood. We love your sense of community.” Garrido also mentioned something else that Joyce is known for. “And any of us who have gotten a note from you, cherish it because of

your beautiful handwriting,” she said. This week, Garrido said, “Linda Joyce leaves a wonderful legacy of giving in our community. Her commitment to addressing domestic violence issues is certainly well known. She was the driving force behind Kitsap County’s ‘Women of Achievement’ celebration. So many of Linda’s qualities — her beautiful spirit, unique laugh, and devotion to family, friends and community — will be remembered fondly. I will miss her.” YWCA board member Harriette Bryant remembered Joyce as a force behind the YWCA for so many years. “Linda leaves with us a legSEE JOYCE, A9

School board OK’s big loan

IN THIS EDITION

NEWS Sweet & Smokey Diner wins awards

A9

OPINION New grocery store welcome in Bremerton

A4

CRIME Taxi driver arrested for false imprisonment

A6

BY PETER O’CAIN POCAIN@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM

BREMERTON — The Bremerton School Board voted to give the district the ability to use a $700,000 interfund loan for the West Hills STEM Academy expansion project at its March 21 meeting. The loan would account for a scenario in which the contractors moved faster than the district could pay them. “We don’t want the lack of cash flow to put a hamper on the project,” said Director of Finance Garth Steedman. If that were to happen, the district would have to dip into SEE INTERFUND LOAN, A9

Peter O’Cain / staff photo

Marine Corps recruiter AJ Russell (22) pulls his donkey, “Eddie Murphy,” in a game of donkey basketball at the Youth Wellness Center in Bremerton to benefit Food Backpacks 4 Kids. About 400 people attended and helped the fundraiser collect over $1,000.

Not your grandpa’s March Madness

BY PETER O’CAIN POCAIN@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM

BREMERTON — With the speed of a rusted, barely functional locomotive, they stormed. Side by side, Marines and soldiers battled each other for position as they moved downcourt. Riding “donkeyback.”

The game was donkey basketball. Service members from local Marine, Army and Navy recruiting offices participated, as well as the West Sound Warriors hockey team. The mission was to raise money for Kitsap Food Backpacks 4 Kids, a nonprofit that gives in-need students five pounds of food to take home

over the weekend and help feed their families. “We’re very pleased with the turnout and were hoping to make it an annual event,” said Carol Unger, a board member with Backpacks. About 400 people attended the games at the Youth Wellness Center on Wheaton Way March 21. After expenses, they

raised over $1,000, Unger said. Backpacks serves about 50 kids from Armin Jahr, Green Mountain, PineCrest and Cougar Valley Elementary schools, according to Unger. “This is the first year we’ve done it in our area,” Ungren said.

SPORTS All-American Ashli Payne

A7

SEE DONKEY BBALL, A9

The Bremerton Patriot: Top local stories, every Friday in print. Breaking news daily on BremertonPatriot.com and on Facebook


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Bremerton Patriot, March 27, 2015 by Sound Publishing - Issuu