Sound Off is a public forum. Today, Port Orchard resident Marty Erath responds to a recent article in the Independent about the controversy created at Cedar Heights Junior High over his daughter’s nose ring, and a pair of recent letters to the editor discussing the issue.
Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about a potential annexation request to the city of Bremerton from the Port of Bremerton and some adjoining property owners for specific parcels located in the South Kitsap Industrial Area (SKIA) which is designated as an Urban Growth Area (UGA). I want to take this opportunity to express the position of the city administration on this subject.
For the past nine months the majority of the opinions, which have appeared in this space, have largely been my own with the exception of the public office endorsements, which were made by the Patriot’s editorial board. Until now it hasn’t been difficult to fill this space with a kudo or a well-organized complaint, but it’s been a real exercise in walking the finest of fine lines between being a reporter and an editor.
Infused with new blood and wiser after years and scars from intra party battling.
Two weeks ago, I shut off my winter heat, rendering my house a nice toasty 59 degrees on a sunny day. Toss snow into the equation of “I’m going to save money (and carbon) even if it hurts me,” and the temperature does a quick loopy-loop on its rapid plunge to 54 degrees.
I found your recent coverage of the Liberty Shores Assisted Living Retirement Community to be woefully inadequate in terms of giving your readers an accurate picture of why the facility made the decision to cancel its Medicaid contract.
Kitsap Republicans passed a nice, clean platform at their county convention Saturday that was guaranteed to offend nobody and left vowing to keep the White House and take back Congress, the governor’s office, the Legislature and the courthouse.
It’s bad enough Kitsap residents can’t leave the area without having to pay their way off this peninsula and soon one way is going to get a little more costly.
LIKE IT IS
TORRENS TALK
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent top-two primary ruling was gift-wrapped by the Washington State Grange to look like a blanket primary.
In recent weeks, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed more than 200 bills into law, stemming from the 2008 legislative session.
FAITHFUL LIVING
Local Rotarians and Lions have invested heavily in the city parks bearing their affiliations in Evergreen Rotary Park and Lions Park throughout the years, and today the Kiwanis Club will follow suit as its members gather at Kiwanis Park, located between Fourth and Fifth streets in West Bremerton, for the first step in a long-term overhaul of the park.
As I write this second column for the Patriot, it is spring vacation in the Bremerton schools. As such, it is a relatively quiet time of the year. Our facilities and support staff are busy at work, “spring cleaning” and completing punch list items for the new high school and middle school additions. Nonetheless, without students, the schools are very quiet, indeed.
“If you are an Independent, then I am the Angel Gabriel,” writes Earl P. Otto of Bremerton.
Anger. Disappointment. A tad resentful. Whatever the people involved in the Tibbits and Gaines annexation issues are feeling right now, it’s justified.
The Poulsbo City Council on Wednesday night had the perfect opportunity to show its concern for some future residents. And it failed to do so. On the night in question, the council was met with an unusual standing room only crowd of spectators who were all attracted by one of two agenda items.
As I look back at the 2008 legislative session, I’m proud to have played my part and grateful to have been given that opportunity. Faced with a slowing economy, we invested, but invested wisely. We said “no” to new taxes, but avoided slashing vital public services. We accomplished many things that really matter in people’s lives, and we left a substantial reserve to guard against future problems. As I said, I’m proud of what your Legislature accomplished in this year’s short session. But in the end, of course, you’ll be the judge.
TORRENS TALK