Washington’s water law is probably the most complicated set of statutes we have. The root is in the state’s water code enacted in 1917; and the fact that the waters of Washington State collectively belong to the public and may not be owned by any individual or organization.
The people who wrote our state constitution were pretty smart. They had watched other western states adopt constitutions — some better than others — and they were very savvy about how to write a constitution that protects the public interest.
Soundoff is a public forum. Articles are selected from letters to the editor or may be written specifically for this feature. Today, Port Orchard resident Anthony Johnston responds to a recent story in the Port Orchard Independent featuring a teen-aged, unwed mother and her belief that others were being unfairly critical of her.
Have you ever looked for someone and couldn’t find him or her. I mean, one minute he or she is in your life and then, poof, it’s as if he or she has vanished.
You don’t know where to look or even how.
“This letter is from the many friends of Roy J. Scott, who has been a Port Angeles resident since 1998, whom you made the headline topic of a column,” writes a Port Angeles reader whose name is either on a second page I mislaid or he/she didn’t sign it.
“A columnist is not expected to be unbiased,” continued the reader, “but taking more time to learn all of the facts before publishing a flip comment would make your work more credible with the thinking readers of the Peninsula Daily News.”
None too soon, the Port of Bremerton commissioners decided to take a second look at the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development project (SEED).
While there are people who support SEED with an almost religious fervor, it is probably safe to say that most people are reluctant to foot the bill on faith alone.
Former Kitsap County Commissioner Tim Botkin’s dismissal as head of the Port of Bremerton’s Sustainable Energy and Economic Development (SEED) project was a no-brainer, and not just because we think the whole idea is an expensive mistake in the first place.
In an effort to keep the controversial project alive, Botkin last week sent out an e-mail urging supporters to put pressure on Port Commissioner Cheryl Kincer, who appears to be SEED’s swing vote on the board. Problem was, Botkin’s e-mail also implied Kincer simply didn’t understand the complexities of the issue.
As if the product being served up at Espresso Gone Wild wasn’t already stimulating enough, the Gorst establishment several weeks ago adopted a policy of outfitting its baristas in bikinis — and occasionally less.
Talk about your morning eye-opener.
In the past few months, two small dogs being walked by their owners have been attacked in South Kitsap by a pit bull.
Their owners have also been attacked.
During the interim between when a column is submitted and when I read it in a paper, sometimes my perspective shifts.
I’ll see the words in print and gasp, “Oh my. What did I say? Will they understand? This reads much more self-serving and cocky than I meant it to.”
I said it before, and I admit it was back in 2006, but I am beginning to appreciate U.S. Sen. Patty Murray.
She spoke at a Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce luncheon the other day. She spoke for 45 minutes without notes, and she was courteous, even downright friendly to me, although I have nicked her numerous times.
Do you know the term “Bodhisattva?”
Lisa Maliga in Pagewise, Inc. gives a beautiful definition from Tibetan Buddhism, “Bodhisattva refers to a person motivated by compassion who seeks enlightenment not only for him/herself, but for everyone.”
The goal of a bodhisattva, Maliga explains, is “to achieve the highest level of being — that of a Buddha.”
Once in a while, it does a soul good to keep an eye peeled for signs that our local government officials are using common sense when considering one or another proposal.
Change can be a wonderful thing — or not, depending on the nature of the change and the probable outcome.
Here are some of my favorite news stories of 2007, this time not all about animals.
• OLYMPIA — A vigilant Olympia man went to great lengths to recover his stolen 35-foot speed boat, chartering a plane to scour highways in Jefferson and Mason counties.
His 2005 Cobalt speed boat was stolen on Aug. 7 from a repair shop.
Most residents of South Kitsap will receive a pleasant surprise when their property tax bills arrive in the near future.
As usual, last summer’s notices of increases in assessed values prompted cries of dismay and anger from people who assumed their tax bills would rise at the same rate as their assessed values.
This may be an interesting year in South Kitsap for those of us who tend to watch what local government entities do.
At the Port of Bremerton, the new commissioner, Larry Stokes, could make a noticeable difference — and it would be none too soon.
It’s time to take the Christmas cards down and sort out the ones you want to keep, like family pictures, etc.
I used to put all the cards we got into scrapbooks, which are interesting to look at today because of the way cards have changed.
South Kitsap’s loss on the Board of County Commissioners could turn out to be gain in Olympia if Kitsap County Commissioner Jan Angel is successful in her just-announced bid to unseat longtime state Rep. Pat Lantz.
From our standpoint, what Angel would bring to the race — in addition to views with which we’ve generally agreed — is a strong and viable candidate who would represent the interests of South Kitsap.
New Port Orchard Mayor Lary Coppola, in the weeks following his election last November, considered resigning from his position as a member of the Kitsap County Planning Commission. And for the sake of appearances at least, we’re glad both he and Kitsap County Commissioner Jan Angel, who had appointed him to the board in the the first place, took the time to question whether his holding both jobs might present a conflict of interest.
Looking for Christmas ornaments? Turtle shells or homemade jam? Perhaps a soy candle or a Peruvian wool hat?
The Crafters Gift Shoppe is a sure bet.
