News Roundup — City gets clean bill of health/Ferry terminal work extended/Media literacy class offered/Mamas, papas need a break/Rec facility plans unveiled/B

Published 2:00 pm Saturday, November 26, 2005

City gets clean bill of health

Thanksgiving came early for the city administration, as Bainbridge Island got a clean bill of financial health from the state auditor earlier this month.

The Washington State Auditor’s Office reported no findings in an examination of financial statements, internal controls and compliance with various laws for fiscal year 2004.

It was the second straight year of positive reviews, a marked improvement from previous years in which the city was dogged by poor report cards.

The city filed its financial statements late 19 times over a 23-year period, an ongoing embarrassment to the mayor’s office. Several years ago, the auditor found the city books in such disarray that it simply abandoned the audit.

No more.

“It’s getting better,” said Elray Konkel, who joined the city as finance director a year ago, from the city of Corona, Calif., and whose staff worked with state officials during the audit.

“I’m a little spoiled, having 14 years of awards on the wall when I left Corona,” Konkel added.

The audit results were disclosed in a meeting with city officials on Nov. 17, with a formal written report to be issued at a later date.

The auditor did find several mistakes in the statements’ presentation, but also said such errors were fewer than those made by other cities. None of the mistakes were substantive.

The lone glitch during the fiscal year came in November 2004, when the cash drawer was stolen from the front desk at City Hall one evening.

State auditors were called in immediately to review internal controls, Konkel said. All checks written to the city that day were cancelled, and the loss in cash came to about $200.

Police identified as a suspect a contract employee working for a cleaning service, but evidence was inconclusive and no arrests were made.

The worker did not return to the building, and no other incidents occurred.

– Douglas Crist

Ferry terminal work extended

Night work at the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal will continue through Dec. 9, Washington State Ferries announced this week.

The project involves securing pile caps by welding the dock structure to the piling.

Nighttime work, which had been scheduled to end Dec. 2, is necessary to take advantage of low tides that make the work zone safer for crews and limit disruption to ferry operations.

Ongoing work at the terminal includes replacing portions of the timber trestle with a new durable steel-and-concrete structure, and replacement of the transfer span and towers at slip No. 2.

Construction is scheduled to continue through April 2006.

Any neighbors with questions or concerns about the work can call WSF at 515-3755.

Media literacy class offered

Teachers and parents are invited to a free workshop that explains media literacy classes at Sakai Intermediate, Woodward Middle and Bainbridge High schools. The session will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Nov. 29 in the Sakai library.

The workshop is presented by Wendy Johnson, a media literacy trainer. Sponsors include the Bainbridge Island Arts Council, Bainbridge Arts Education Consortium and Bainbridge Island School District. Clock hours are available.

To register for the workshop call 780-6500. For more information call 842-0997.

Mamas, papas need a break

Designed to head off the stress created by the holiday season, the Mama Llamas series hosts a discussion that reminds parents they need to give themselves a break, too.

The Mama Llamas parenting series takes up “Self-Care for Parents: Beyond Massage and Chocolate,” at 7 p.m. Nov. 29 at the Bainbridge library. The focus will be different ways parents can add more self care into their busy lives during the holidays.

Looking beyond indulgence, the discussion asks how parents can bring real joy and satisfaction into their lives by recognizing that self care is different for everyone, from a delicious piece of chocolate or getting a massage once a month to including spiritual practice, joining a book group, writing or travel.

Participants are encouraged to bring their favorite chocolate and a book to share.

Mama Llamas provides parents of teens with information, resources and support and meets the last Tuesday of each month. Suggested donation is $5. For more information call 780-0104 or 842-5702.

Rec facility plans unveiled

Three design options for new athletic, recreational and cultural facilities serving North Kitsap and Bainbridge Island will be presented next week.

The Kitsap Public Facilities District hosts a community workshop 6:30-9 p.m. Nov. 29 at the North Kitsap School District Board Room, 18310 Caldart Ave. in Poulsbo, to gather public input on three design options.

Plans are to expand the number and quality of athletic, recreational and cultural facilities in the north end of the county, to serve island recreational needs as well. The project is being planned near North Kitsap High School.

For more information, contact Anne Blair of the Kitsap Public Facilities District at (360) 337-5356 or ablair@kitsap-pfd.org.

BHS class of 1980 reunion

Disco and punk music set the stage with “Star Wars,” “Jaws,” Walter Cronkite and Nadia Comaneci’s perfect 10s.

It’s nostalgia calling all class of 1980 graduates of Bainbridge High School for a 25th year informal reunion on Dec. 2.

The no-host gathering will be from 8 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Rock Bottom Brewery at 1333 Fifth Ave. in Seattle’s Rainier Square. All graduates, faculty and staff are invited.

RSVP to Charlotte Shepard Jaberi at (206) 484-8174 or email cjaberi@msn.com.

Ferry poster series is back

After a three-year hiatus, Washington State Ferries is bringing back its annual poster series, featuring the work of Washington artist Alex Young.

The republished 2003 poster features a watercolor of the ferry Illahee at the dock on Lopez Island. The series debuted in 1984. Each one depicts a ferry at one of the Puget Sound terminals.

The 2005 poster will depict a snowy Shaw Island scene and will be available for holiday sales. The artist will sign posters from 4-8 p.m. Nov. 30 at Colman Dock.

A classical string trio will perform at the event, and Seattle terminal restaurants will offer samples of their fare to commuters.

The poster will be sold for $15 at this event only; the regular retail price is $20.