PATRIOT BREMERTON
KITSAP WEEK: KNOW YOUR NORSE: TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF POULSBO
FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 | Vol. 18, No. 9 | WWW.BREMERTONPATRIOT.COM | 50¢
IN THIS EDITION
NEWS Teacher awarded by Seattle station
A12
OPINION Taiwanese could help area growth
A4
COMMUNITY Local leaders spend time in jail for charity
A12
Port talks business with Taiwan delegates Commissioners hope to pry busisnessmen away from Seattle area BY PETER O’CAIN AND CHRIS TUCKER POCAIN@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM CTUCKER@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
BREMERTON — Taiwanese businesses might one day ship Washington products from Bremerton’s industrial park via railroad to waiting cargo ships at the Grays Harbor deep-water port. The products would then be distributed to Asian markets. Bremerton port commissioners hosted a delegation of nine officials from Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, for a discussion of economic development opportunities April 30 at Bremerton National Airport. “You have to build those relationships,” said Bremerton Port Commissioner Roger Zabinski, who coordinated the meeting. “A lot of business is
Courtesy of Victoria Peters
Pictured from left is Sue Wang, Alan Wang, Arthur Huag, Axel Strakeljhan, Andy Chin, Roger Zabinski, Jim Rothlin, Wu ChenChi, Lily Juang (executive assistant to Director-General Andy Chin), Felicity Wang, Destiny L. Perez-Glaubitz (an interpreter) and Steven Sparks, director for Facilities and Planning at the Port. about who knows who and who can put in a good word for you.” Chin “Andy” Hsing, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle, was among the delegates who toured port facilities. Chin sees Kitsap as a perfect opportunity because it’s close
to Seattle and has an airport, Zabinski said. “He really wanted to bring these business people over,” Zabinksi said of Chin. “He said these people have the means to really invest and they know other people who do.” The meeting served as a way for local officials to show the potential of the Puget Sound
BY PETER O’CAIN POCAIN@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
A7
CEO Jim Rothlin said. The Taiwanese delegates are interested in finding an alternative to Seattle and Tacoma, which are becoming increasingly expensive and congested. According to Zillow.com and the Seattle Times, the median price for a Seattle SEE TAIWAN, A9
KRCC rejects Bremerton Kitsap Great Give voting structure changes raises $1.14 million City to weigh its future with the group in coming weeks
SPORTS Central Kitsap Cougars shine at invitational
Industrial Center (PSIC), formerly known as the South Kitsap Industrial Area. “We mentioned the 1,700 port-owned acres, the 11 padready sites, the access to rail that can ship to deep-water ports, and the airport with a 6,000-foot runway with hangar space available for construction,” Port of Bremerton
BREMERTON — Your move, Bremerton. The Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council (KRCC) rejected Bremerton’s proposed voting structure changes seven votes to four May 5. Bremerton representatives have clamored for changes to the voting structure after rejecting an interlocal agreement in March. The city will consider its
future with KRCC at its May 13 study session when Greg Wheeler, who represents Bremerton at the KRCC, reports back to the city council. Wheeler said he expected the motion to be struck down. “I would’ve been surprised if it hadn’t turned out this way,” Wheeler said. Bremerton’s dismay with the voting structure stems from the amount of control given to county commissioners.
“The Bremerton City Council is not comfortable with the county controlling the process if this is supposed to be an organization collaboration,” said Greg Wheeler, city council president. “By the language in the (interlocal agreement), that requires two votes from the county commissioners to get any work done.” At least two commissioners are required to be present for a vote to occur. And at least SEE KRCC, A9
BREMERTON — More than 5,700 donations totaling more than $1,017,000 were made on May 5 to 230 nonprofits in the Kitsap Great Give, a day of giving organized by the Kitsap Community Foundation and its presenting sponsor, United Way of Kitsap County. “When we add in the funds donated by the event sponsors ($129,000), the total amount of money going to these 230 nonprofits is over $1.14 million,” the organizers reported on the Kitsap Great Give website. The Village Green Foun-
dation, which is leading the fundraising effort for the development of a community center, library, senior center and Boys & Girls Club in Kingston, had the most donor support — 70 gifts totaling $100,598. Rounding out the top five: Kitsap Humane Society, 303 donors, $37,380; Kitsap Regional Library Foundation, 208 donors, $37,299; Children of the Nations, 75 donors, $32,725; and Island Time Activities, 86 donors, $30,770. “The spirit of philanthropy SEE GREAT GIVE, A12
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