Letters

City Hall

Sorry about that

I wish to retract some incorrect voting information I have given some people.

Ballots will be mailed, voter’s pamphlets will not. I apologize for my mistake.

Muriel Williams

Poulsbo

Veterans

Flags in cemetery need to be replaced

Memorial Day weekend, I was appalled and saddened to see the faded, grimy and tattered flags that were displayed on the graves of our Veterans at the Suquamish Cemetery.

It is a disgrace to continue using flags in such a horrible condition and is no way to “honor” those who sacrificed for our freedom.

“The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” (Flag Code, Section 8k) I would gladly contribute to help replace the flags if someone can tell me who to contact.

Sandra Gast

Tumwater

Stray cats

Adopting from a shelter is the right thing to do

If you’re looking for a kitten, be responsible and adopt from a shelter/rescue group. Your kitten will already be fixed and vet checked. When you buy or get a free unfixed kitten you are keeping the cycle of cat overpopulation going and taking the life of a cat at the shelter waiting for a home that never comes. You are as guilty as the irresponsible person allowing their cat to have kittens. Buying unfixed kittens from pet stores perpetuates the backyard breeding and kitten mills. Adopting from a shelter/rescue group helps them help more animals.

In these desperate economic times many people forced to move will unfortunately leave their cats behind. The shelters will be overburdened trying to help these cats. Don’t breed or buy while homeless animals die.

Don’t get a kitten from a friend or outside a store. If you do, you encourage them to let their cats reproduce because it’s easy to “get rid of them.” Think of the rescued shelter cats waiting for you and adopt.

The Kitsap Humane Society has been working hard to reduce their euthanasia rate, we can help by making sure our pet cats are fixed and not adding to overpopulation. The biggest obstacle to Kitsap becoming a no-kill community is people who let their cats reproduce and don’t spay/neuter. Please spay/neuter.

Linda Dennis

Bremerton

Reader feedback

Family needs help

Please help a family in need. A woman trying to save her dog from her burning double-wide mobile home in Kingston last Tuesday afternoon suffered minor injuries. She was taken to Harrison Medical Center for treatment. The dog, which suffered burns, was taken to the Pet Medical Center in Kingston for treatment and has since been adopted.

The fire completely destroyed the home. NK Fire and Rescue has contacted the American Red Cross on the family’s behalf. The family will be staying with relatives. The family has endured many hardships, including most recently the sudden-infant death of their 3-week-old grandson Coleton just last month. The family has lost everything and had no insurance. Any help or donations would be greatly appreciated. An account has been opened at Bank of America for the Dumford Fire Fund.

June Blomgren

Poulsbo

Agriculture

Small farmers being ignored in Kitsap County

It has always been an American historical tradition to grow some of our own food, whether a small herd, or a crop, Americans have always considered using the land an inherent property right. Years ago, when the officials of Kitsap County were tasked with the Growth Management Act, one of the conditions was to protect agricultural lands from development and neighboring complaints. Kitsap’s governmental response, at that time, was, “We have no agricultural land left?” and consequently bailed from any formal farm protection issues. Well, some interesting statistics have surfaced from the recent Federal USDA farm census, between the years 2002 and 2007; small farms have grown by 13 percent in Kitsap County. The USDA defines small farms as a producer of $1,000 value or more of product. I suspect there are many, many more Kitsap small farmers who were missed in these surveys. (I also suspect there maybe a GMA lawsuit potential against the county for failing to inventory, identify and protect those farms).

All of the counties neighboring Kitsap have farmland protection plans, most have a county level “Right-to-Farm” ordinance (Kitsap does not), and some actually have separate zoning set aside for agricultural enterprises. It’s time for the current Kitsap administration to resolve the outstanding GMA provision of farmland protection, and the Department of Community Development needs to acknowledge the Washington State’s Right to Farm RCW, and allow our “growing” agricultural enterprises to expand and flourish — the public is demanding it. Local farmers markets and farm produce subscription (CSA?s) can’t keep up with the demand. Locally produced food shouldn’t be a small “niche” market, expansion should be one of the ultimate goals of the current administration, and agricultural enterprises should get the same kind of support as any other Kitsap business, whether it is new greenhouses, farm stands, or livestock housing. It isn’t farmland, without the farmer, let’s remove some of the local barriers and let them farm. County attitudes must change, farming is a small business enterprise and has vast economic impact on a local level, this needs to be recognized and valued.

Jerry Darnall

Kingston

Thank you

Owners of Roadrunner Café realize dream

We would like to thank the instrument of this blessing that made our restaurant, Roadrunner Café , possible.

Without Greg’s faith in us our dream would not have become a reality. A special thanks to all of our patrons that have made our first few weeks in business an exciting adventure.

Art Crothers & Regina Ruiz

Owners, Roadrunner Café