HERALD NORTH K ITSAP
KITSAPweek J u n e 5 - 11 , 2 0 1 5
Life of Brian LIFE AND CULTURE
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Plan your week and weekend. — Kitsap Calendar, pages 4-8
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Lots of savings in Kitsap’s largest Classified section. — pages 11-19
Kitsap artist travels the world bringing characters to life BY ILY GOYANES For Kitsap Week
B
rian Johnson lives a charmed life; he even says so himself. But the term doesn’t consider the hard work and undeniable talent that got Johnson to where he is today.
Friday, June 5, 2015 | Vol. 114, No. 23 | NorthKitsapHerald.com | 50¢
Humble yet proud of his work ethic as a wardrobe head, Johnson travels the world helping create make-believe worlds on stage. He's worked on such
notable shows as “Dreamgirls,” “Wicked,” “Aladdin,” and “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.” He's also worked with Britney Spears, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill. A charmed life indeed. Johnson's family moved from Concord, California to Port Orchard before he entered fifth grade. After graduating from South Kitsap High School in 2007, Johnson attended Olympic College with the intention of becoming a high school math teacher. Halfway through his associate's degree, he decided to act on his dream of attending Central Washington University in Ellensburg.
“Work hard for what you want and never let anyone or anything hold you back, because it’s never too late to do what you’ve always wanted to do in life.” — Brian Johnson “To put it in perspective, I’d had my eyes set on CWU since I was in junior high at John Sedgwick. I just knew if I went to CWU, great things would happen,” Johnson said. Pursuing a math degree at first, Johnson realized something was amiss when he took
yet another calculus class and the passion wasn't there. “I thought really hard on what I wanted to do as a career. I say career instead of job because career is a life journey with something you have great passion for and love doing to no end, whereas a job is just your simple 9-to-5, every day routine,” he shares. “That’s when it all hit me — theater.” Hearing Johnson talk about performing in school plays, avidly watching “Project Runway” and recruiting his mother and grandmother to help with his early sewing endeavors, working in the theater was such a natural choice that one wonders
INSIDE Local makeup artist brings characters to life — Kitsap Week
how the thought didn't occur to him before. “Looking back now, I realize I made the best life decision of my life,” he said. Armed with the knowledge that he wanted a career and not a job, he applied for BFA candidacy in theater designs and technologies with focuses in costume and makeup design and wig artistry. See JOHNSON, Page 2
Above: Some of the faces of Brian Johnson: Center, taking on the persona of the Grinch. Left and right, two profiles of the artist as Pinocchio. Courtesy photos / Brian Johnson
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Jail time educated him on local issue But candidate must overcome felony charge to be eligible to serve in office
Poulsbo City Council candidate Greg Mueller discusses his platform — and his defense in an alleged violation of a court order.
By RICHARD WALKER
rwalker@northkitsapherald.com
POULSBO — Greg Mueller collected information for one of his campaign issues in a place where you will not often find a candidate for city council: In Kitsap County Jail.
Michelle Beahm/ Herald
Mueller, 44, was in jail for allegedly violating a protection order, and it was there his belief that Poulsbo has a heroin problem was bolstered. Many of those in jail for heroin-related crimes were from Poulsbo and North
Kitsap, he said. If elected, he would push for more police presence in the city, and he supports the police use of body cameras because, he said, “The video does not lie.” “If elected” — that’s another issue. He’s charged with a felony, which means a conviction would make him ineligible to serve in public office. Mueller, 44, is a retired
U.S. Navy fire controlman who, until recently, worked as a technician for Delphinus Engineering in Bremerton. He is a candidate for City Council Position 4 and faces Councilman Jeff McGinty in the Nov. 3 general election. According to the investigation report, a Poulsbo police officer was disSee MUELLER, Page A8
In the U.S., ice cream is the new coffee ‘After the attack, everybody just turned to’
Mora Iced Creamery opens production plant, is franchising
A World War II flying ace recounts his experiences
By SARA MILLER
smiller@northktisapherald.com
P
OULSBO — “As we say in Argentina, I’m as happy as a dog with two tails,” said Jerry Perez, founder and CEO of Mora Iced Creamery. That’s how Perez describes coming to work every day to Mora’s new production plant on Viking Way in Poulsbo, and yes, that’s a good thing. He sees himself as a kid with a new toy, enjoying every moment and every new thing
CB’S NUTS ■ How a small-town hobby became big business. — NorthKitsapHerald.com and June 12 Herald.
By RICHARD WALKER
rwalker@northkitsapherald.com
Jerry Perez stands in front of the entry way of Mora Iced Creamery’s new production plant. The facility will help Mora expand into franchising and wholesale business. Sara Miller / Herald happening to the building, even the installation of the new security system. Perez and his wife, Ana
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Orselli, opened Mora in 2004 after moving to America from Argentina. They felt like there was a niche market for extraor-
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dinary ice cream. Yes, there are great American industrial
HANSVILLE — John T. “Mike” Wolf was 20 in 1941, getting close to graduating from Long Beach City College, a self-described Southern California beach bum. Then, Pearl The gold medal presented to America’s Harbor was ace fighter pilots. attacked. “After Pearl Harbor, everyone enlisted,” Wolf said. “Everyone ‘turned to.’ ”
See MORA, Page A8
See ACE, Page A14
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