POULSBO — Additional chairs were brought into the meeting room at the Valborg Oyen Library Thursday night to accommodate the 30 or so people interested in this city’s Democratic process. But even with nearly every seat filled and candidates seeking election or re-election for council and mayor slots in just three weeks, the mood was surprisingly relaxed.
SUQUAMISH — Dressed as Uncle Sam, Catherine Ahl gave it her all to support Initiative 747.
“The government can get used to having less money,” she said citing Initiative 695, which did away with the vehicle excise tax. “I-695 was all doom and gloom. But the ferries are still running and we have some roads,” she continued as she played the role of I -747 author Tim Eyman.
POULSBO — The two goals Gig Harbor scored against North Kitsap weren’t pretty, but they were enough.
Not everything you hear in an election year is the truth. Ask questions and do your homework before you cast your vote.
POULSBO — The Poulsbo Junior High Panthers shot themselves in the paw Thursday.
The Panthers, who entered a game against a tough, athletic Fairview team, stayed with the Falcons for many stretches of the game, stalling their drives, rolling out big plays, and gaining yardage.
But the Panthers also committed several turnovers, and the Falcons jumped on the opportunities, racking up enough scores to garner a 24-6 win.
POULSBO — There weren’t many disagreements — or many spectators — at last Tuesday’s forum for the North Kitsap School District candidates.
The dozen or so community members who made it to the Poulsbo Junior High library that evening got to see four of the five school board candidates discuss a range of issues, from year-long school to WASL testing. The tone of the talk remained cordial and positive, with all of the candidates emphasizing their appreciation of the direction the district is heading.
POULSBO — Three North Kitsap cross country athletes will be moving on to district competition next week.
Jim Robson, Michael Chuol, and Robyn Embrey all placed well enough in Wednesday’s league meet to move on.
POULSBO — In a sport where a single breath — or a single half-second — can mean the difference between winning and losing, the North Kitsap swimming team has been working to reduce both.
The team has seen a bumper crop of best times this year, often achieving 20 or more best marks in a single meet. Already the team has qualified one competitor, Jacklene Salwei, for state. And while Greg Braun is proud of that achievement, he is also proud of the way every swimmer has improved.
“A lot of these kids swim differently now than they did at the beginning of the year,” Braun said. “Those who are swimming for the first time are starting to look like serious swimmers.”
POULSBO — Cross country will be the first of the North Kitsap High School teams to reach into the postseason.
The team will travel to Lakewood’s Steilacom Park today to take part in the 15-part league meet.
KINGSTON — Preserving wildlife, the Carpenter Creek watershed and even homeowner views were topics of concern at an EIS scoping meeting held Monday evening at Kingston Junior High.
About 50 people gathered in the commons area to suggest items that should be covered in a draft environmental impact statement for three proposed sub-area plans for Kingston.
POULSBO — For the first play of North Kitsap’s rivalry game against South, North Kitsap kick returner Patrick Gilbert caught the ball at the 15, then weaved his way upfield.
Gilbert eluded the Wolves’ tacklers. His blockers plowed forward. And the North Kitsap fans, who filled the stands to which the 0-5 Vikings take on their rivals from the South, started cheering.
Gilbert was finally brought down at the 50. He and the kick-return team united and marched off the field to cheers. Unfortunately, it was downhill from there as North was handed a 47-0 loss by its rival from the South.
The suspected anthrax scare that for five hours shut down the Bremerton Transportation Center on Sunday, worried a region already jittery over possible bio-terrorism attacks.
Local and Kitsap County officials have had “disaster drills” for years. They hoped they would never need to implement those plans. Now we know that all the planning paid big dividends.
If voters approve a proposed new county charter in an election scheduled for February 2002, they will change the manner by which county council members are elected.
Then they’ll have the chance to change back in November 2003.
Was it only a month ago that our main concerns were getting our kids back to school, the local primary elections and whether the Mariners were winning?
Was it only a month ago that we dutifully mumbled through the Pledge of Allegiance instead of considering how such a pledge could cost us the lives of our friends and neighbors?
Was it only a month ago that we barely heard a low-flying aircraft or wondered if every sniffle was the first symptom of Anthrax?
Was it only a month ago that we felt safe?
SUQUAMISH — After four years as owner of the Coffee Cantina and serving as manger for the Kitsap Community Arts Center, Don Downing is taking his world famous zesty clam chowder recipe and hitting the road.
“My financial resources are completely exhausted and so when it became apparent that KCAC could no longer afford my modest salary, I had no choice but to resign, put the coffee shop up for sale and seek employment elsewhere,” Downing said in a statement.
His resignation is effective Nov. 1.
POULSBO — The county scored one out of five possible points, Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management Director Phyllis Mann told members of the Poulsbo City Council Wednesday night.
And while in most cases low scores are a bad sign, Mann said when one is counting the possibility of terrorism here — it couldn’t be better.
Over the next few months Kitsap County will be shedding its jellyfish image in terms of telecommunications access and getting a little backbone. Actually, thanks to the Kitsap Public Utilities District, it will be a lot of backbone.
Members of the Regional Telecommunications Committee were briefed Thursday on how KPUD was working to expand and improve access throughout the county.
A group of animals and their owners gathered Saturday for a blessing and to celebrate St. Francis Assisi’s love of animals.
According to the Department of Transportation, the $7 million earmarked for Poulsbo work remains intact–for now.
