Bainbridge Island briefs

Auction raises over $1 million

The recent Bainbridge Island Rotary Auction & Rummage Sale raised over $1 million, a record amount for the event. The money goes toward community grants, projects, scholarships and international humanitarian projects.

Day of Action

Indivisible Bainbridge Island held a food drive July 17 called “For Love of Community,” which donated over 1,700 pounds of food and over $1,100 to Helpline House.

Following the food drive, nearly 500 people lined a mile of Highway 305 on BI, waving signs and line dancing as part of a nationwide Day of Action to honor the legacy and philosophy of American civil rights activist and politician John Lewis on the 5th anniversary of his passing. They were part of demonstrations taking place throughout Kitsap County.

“During a time when cruelty, division and corruption have become policy, we stand united in love and kindness for all who live, for love of community. We stand united for justice and the rule of law for ALL people,” a news release says.

Levy committees

The Bainbridge Island School District board of directors will consider taking action on a resolution to place a supplemental levy for educational programs and operations on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. This will occur at the board meeting July 31. This measure follows recent legislative approval increasing school district levy authority.

As part of this process, the district is seeking community members to serve on committees to write the official “For” and “Against” statements for the Kitsap County voters’ pamphlet. The application deadline is 3 p.m. July 30. Interested residents should email their name, address, phone number, email address, and which committee they wish to serve on (“For” or “Against”) to Lani Chaffee at lchaffee@bisd303.org.

The school board will appoint committee members at the July 31 board meeting, contingent upon approval of the levy resolution. The levy resolution and committee appointments must be filed with the Kitsap County Auditor by Aug. 5 to appear on the November ballot.

Contact information for committee members may be published in the voters’ pamphlet.

Farmhouse improvements

The city-owned Suyematsu Farmhouse (9227 NE Day Road), managed by the Suyematsu Farm Legacy Alliance, recently underwent repairs. In late June, Fairbank Construction completed chimney work, followed by a roof replacement by Hood Canal Roofing.

Upgrades included new underlayment, wood replacement, added supports, and shingles selected with the state’s architectural historian to preserve the home’s historic character. These improvements help prevent moisture damage and move the home closer to safe occupancy, per a news release.

Next steps include mold remediation and electrical updates. Repairs have been made through city and grant funding and community support.

Road reconstruction

Major construction on the Country Club Road project was completed the week of July 7, following approximately 30 working days. The project reconstructed one of the most deteriorated stretches of roadway on Bainbridge Island, spanning about a half-mile from the intersection of Toe Jam Hill Road east to the Blakely Harbor shoreline, per a news release.

During excavation and preparation of the new roadbed, crews uncovered remnants of an old “skid road,” including a significant stretch of buried logs. These findings are a nod to the road’s historic roots as part of the original route serving the Blakely Mill—one of the island’s earliest industries.

The project was delivered on time and within budget, with a final expected cost of approximately $800,000. Final roadway striping was scheduled for July 22.

Meet the Playwrights

Come meet the playwrights behind this year’s 12th annual Ten-Minute Play Festival at 7 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Bainbridge Public Library.

Hear them talk about their plays, ask them questions, and enjoy a wide-ranging discussion about plays, playwriting and theatre, a press release says. The festival features ten short plays penned by Kitsap County playwrights, both experienced and aspiring. The winning plays were selected from over 65 submissions. All feature the theme of “ESCAPE.”

The festival takes place Aug. 21-23 at Bainbridge Performing Arts’ Buxton Center. It starts at 7 p.m. the first two days and the last day of the festival begins at 3 p.m.

The festival is produced by Island Theatre, a nonprofit, volunteer-run theatre company. Tickets for the festival are on sale now at www.islandtheatre.org.

Flea market

The Rolling Bay Flea Market takes place Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church.

The outdoor market is filled with vintage treasures, handcrafted goods, quirky collectibles and food, per a news release. This year’s event features Raptor Rhapsody, West Sound Wildlife Shelter’s special summer showcase from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meet live birds of prey up close, explore hands-on educational displays, and enjoy wildlife-themed activities just for kids.

Deets office hours

Bainbridge Island City Councilmember Joe Deets is having his office hours July 26 from 10 a.m. to noon at CUPS Espresso on 123 Bjune Drive SE in Winslow.

Everyone is welcome to come and meet with him to talk about city business.