INDEPENDENT PORT ORCHARD
FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 ✮ VOL. 124, NO. 15 ✮ WWW.PORTORCHARDINDEPENDENT.COM ✮ 50¢
Area eyed as import-export alternative Port of Bremerton explores business opportunities with Taiwanese delegates By CHRIS TUCKER and PETER O’CAIN Bremerton Patriot
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
Chin “Andy” Hsing, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle, presents a Taiwan Dollar and Stamp Commemorative Set during lunch at the Lighthouse Restaurant in Port Orchard. Victoria Peters / Courtesy
Zabinski, who coordinated the meeting. “A lot of business is
Skillman gets a taste of Broadway
South Kitsap High School senior Noah Skillman placed second in the March 17 August Wilson Monologue at Seattle Repertory Theater and won an all-expenses paid, fiveday trip to New York, where he performed May 4 at the August Wilson Theater in New York.
South Kitsap student actor By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
T
Senior reporter
he routine was normal as South Kitsap High School senior Noah Skillman sat in his “thinking place” — a maroon 1999 Toyota Corolla. But this time, his thoughts veered from such mundane daily activities as classwork or dinner. Two weeks after standing onstage during the March 17 August Wilson Monologue at Seattle Repertory Theater, Skillman said he first realized he had qualified for the May 4 finals at the August Wilson Theater on West 52nd in New York. “It was just kind of like, ‘All right, let’s do this,’ ” said Skillman, who placed second in Seattle. “I think most of all, I’m excited for the people and the community I’m
about who knows who and who can put in a good word
Chris Chancellor / Staff photo
going to meet there.” Each of the 12 finalists had to memorize a monologue from one of Wilson’s shows and perform for a panel of professional actors and directors. The top three placers won an all-expenses paid, five-day trip to New York. The August Wilson Monologue comprises 10 different sets in the 20th Century. According to truecolorstheater.org, “At
the core of each work are soaring, lyrical monologues that take the song, laughter, pain and rich content of African-American life and place it in the mouths of a great and varied ensemble of characters.” Skillman portrayed Citizen Barlow from “Gem of the Ocean,” set in 1904 Pittsburgh. SKHS acting ensemble instructor Scott Yingling
recommended the character to Skillman. “To me, he is this character — he does it so well,” Yingling said. “This character is so spiritual and so is Noah. It helps Noah go to the next level.” Skillman said he read the script and fell in love with it. “I really enjoy the play because it’s very spiritual,” SEE SKILLMAN, A3
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 Industrial Center (PSIC), formerly known as the South Kitsap Industrial Area. “We mentioned the 1,700 port-owned acres, the 11 padSEE EXPORT, A2
SKSD could make grade, boundary decision June 2 By CHRIS CHANCELLOR Senior reporter
South Kitsap School Board members could decide June 2 whether to realign grade levels and school boundary lines. School board president Chris Lemke asked Superintendent Michelle Reid to review the Boundary Review Committee’s recommendations before the board votes. Reid expects to make a recommendation to the board during the June 2 meeting. Under the committee’s proposal, which would go into effect for the 2016-17 or 201718 school year, ninth-graders
would attend South Kitsap High School. The change also would transform the district’s three junior highs — Cedar Heights, John Sedgwick and Marcus Whitman — into middle schools with sixth-graders moving up from elementary schools. SKSD officials have long considered making the change. When it was discussed in 2009, district director of facilities and operations Tom O’Brien said it would make sense because it followed a national trend. There are four main models for educating the cluster SEE SKSD, A23
$1.14 million raised for 230 nonprofits in Great Give 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
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
and its presenting sponsor, United Way of Kitsap County. “When we add in the funds donated by the event sponsors ($129,000), the SEE GIVE, A24