News Roundup — Tech levy date to be set/Inslee chases ferry funding/Park project seeks support/Church hosts rummage sale/Meetings? Not on March 28/Chorale sing

Published 4:00 pm Wednesday, March 9, 2005

Tech levy date to be set

An election date for the Bainbridge Island School District’s proposed $7.9 million technology levy will be chosen at Thursday night’s school board meeting, at 7 p.m. in the high school library.

The school board had initially hoped to place the technology levy and the proposed $40 million facilities bond on the ballot together, on May 17.

But the bond has been postponed by a request for a master plan, and likely won’t be on the ballot until November.

So the board will decide Thursday whether to go ahead and put the tech levy on the ballot in May, or to wait and put it on the ballot with the bond.

The technology levy will provide new laptop computers, interactive white boards and document cameras for all teachers, and one computer for every four students in the district.

It will provide new science technology, wireless capability district-wide, modern library systems and technology support staff and training for staff.

Most of the computers currently used by students in the classrooms are six to eight years old, district officials said.

In other business Thursday, the board will hear a report from the K-8 Study Team, which was formed in the fall to research, discuss and report on the conditions, practices and factors that contribute to successful K-8 programs.

The school board will begin its session Thursday with a 5 p.m. bond planning session.

– Rhonda Parks Manville

Inslee chases ferry funding

Rep. Jay Inslee is working to double ferry funding contained in an annual transportation spending measure.

The Bainbridge Island congressman recommended increased money for ferry construction and terminal improvements to cut road congestion and boost ferry system efficiency.

“The Puget Sound region experiences some of the worst traffic congestion in the country and residents are looking for relief,” he said. “The federal assistance is welcome news for improving traffic flow and reducing bottlenecks in our local communities.”

The Transportation Equity Act was approved last week by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and now goes to a vote by the full House.

The act includes $430 million to be spent over six years on the ferry system and is a substantial boost from last year’s $220 million.

As operators of the nation’s largest ferry system, Washington State Ferries is expected to net a significant amount of the funding. WSF serves 25 million riders annually – just short of the number traveling through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport each year.

The act also includes millions for an inter-urban trail in Shoreline, railroad improvements in Woodinville and highway upgrades near the Bothell branch of the University of Washington. Nationwide, the measure represents $284 billion in federal highway, public transit and road safety projects through 2009.

– Tristan Baurick

Park project seeks support

The Battle Point Park Transmitter Building Renovation team is holding a community meeting for those interested in seeing the pre-World War II-era facility bustling again.

The meeting will be from 7-8:30 p.m. March 14 at the Strawberry Hill Park mini gym on High School Road.

Project treasurer Amy Curran says the effort needs ideas, enthusiasm and volunteers to inject creativity and energy into the grassroots fund-raising campaign in order to capitalize on a matching grant from the Bainbridge Island Rotary Club, which will double every dollar donated this year, up to $50,000.

The Bainbridge Island Park and Recreation District envisions using the space for beginning-level gymnastic classes and exercise classes for seniors and other community members.

In addition, the space is seen as an indoor play area for toddlers and small kids on rainy days.

“People with kids have clamored for a space to meet with other moms,” said Jean Welch, sports supervisor for the park district, and the playground.

Currently, 20-25 parents with small kids pack the gymnastics area opened to them for play on Monday and Wednesday mornings.

Project architect and volunteer Dana Webber will also present the plans for phase one of the renovation at the meeting.

For more information about the project or meeting, contact Bernadette Stephen-McRae at 780-0499.

– Tina Lieu

Church hosts rummage sale

This Saturday, Eagle Harbor Congregational Church holds its 50th annual craft and rummage sale, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church on Winslow Way.

Organizer Dianne Speers says it’s been a 12-hour-a-day job for the team of volunteers this past week.

The sale, Speers says, will offer “everything” – clothing, furniture, books, crafts, sporting goods and more – filling up the eight small rooms that are normally used by the Madrona School (on spring vacation this weekend) and the one large room.

Jessie Hey, who has been involved with the rummage sale since about 1962, says it has grown larger over the years, bringing the church about $6,000 last year.

The church’s sale seems to mark the start of the rummage and garage sale season, she said, with perhaps 200-300 people waiting outside to get in at 9 a.m.

A lunch of homemade soup, hot dogs and muffins will also be on sale to hungry shoppers.

Proceeds will go towards a badly needed new roof for the church and help with the church’s operating expenses.

What doesn’t get sold is donated to Bargain Boutique or the June Rotary Auction.

– Tina Lieu

Meetings? Not on March 28

If someone wants you to attend a meeting the night of March 28, just say no.

Spend the evening with your family instead.

That’s the goal of “Ready, Set, Relax – Bainbridge Family Night,” sponsored by the Just Know Coalition for Youth and Parents.

For this one night, the coalition requests that community, church, school and other groups not schedule any activities or meetings, so that families can go to dinner, watch a movie, read or play games together.

The purpose of Bainbridge Family Night is to get some family time back onto the schedule, even for just one night.

“It’s a reminder to Bainbridge families that we need to make an effort to schedule time for families to be together,” said school board member Bruce Weiland, a coalition member. “We tend to be over-scheduled in our lives, both kids and adults, and we need to remember what’s important.”

The Just Know Coalition seeks to support Bainbridge families, encourage healthy and safe choices for children, and promote youth and parent education. Its mission is to encourage dialogue and meaningful relationships among youth and adults.

– Rhonda Parks Manville

Chorale sings for peace

Bainbridge Chorale, with the Cascadian Chorale and NW Symphony Orchestra, presents “Concert for Peace” with works of Vaughn Williams, Brahms and Herbolsheimer, 3 p.m. March 13 at Bainbridge High School. Tickets are $15 adult and $10 senior/student, available at Winslow Drug. Tickets for a March 12 performance at Benaroya Hall are at 292-2787. Information: 780-CHOR.