News Roundup – Islander to head libraries/Sutton named to new board/Inslee leads spying debate/Fun for all at July 3 dance/Life jackets for the Fourth/Take a hi

Published 1:00 pm Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Islander to head libraries

With the retirement of director Ellen Newberg this spring, the Kitsap County Regional Library system mounted a nationwide search for the best candidate to lead the organization.

As it turned out, the first choice was someone who lived in Kitsap and had firsthand knowledge of the library system as a patron.

Jill Jean, a Bainbridge Island resident who has crossed Puget Sound to her job as director of public services at the Seattle Public Library for 14 years, takes the KRL helm on Sept. 19.

“We got one of the best and most talented people in the country,” said KRL spokesperson Audrey Newell. “She has a passion and a complete understanding of libraries. She has the ability to visualize the library’s future, and can get her vision across to other people.”

“This is a huge coup. I can’t say enough how thrilled we are to get a person of this caliber.”

KRL’s five-member volunteer board of trustees selected Jean after a lengthy process that included a library staff forum and personal interviews.

Jean welcomed the opportunity to lead the regional library system, which includes the Bainbridge Library and nine other branches around the county.

“The library is where the community happens,” she said. “It is the last bastion of true democracy. It’s where people can gather and learn. There is no admission charge and you can do your own thing.”

In her current position with the Seattle Library, Jean supervises 368 people and manages a budget of some $24 million. By contrast, KRL has 170 employees and a budget of more than $8 million.

Jean is a native of Michigan, where she received a Master’s of Library Science degree from Western Michigan University and started her work in public libraries. Over a 30-year career, she has served on a wide variety of community-based boards that focused on issues of literacy, youth involvement and children’s theater. She is a member of the Downtown Seattle YMCA’s board of directors, chairing the Teen and Young Adult Committee.

She praised the Bainbridge Island Library, of which she has been a patron in her years on the island.

“The Bainbridge Island Library is beautifully done with the melding of the architecture and the artwork. It’s a nice aesthetic to be around art and pieces of beauty in the library. And it’s great that it is by people who live on the island.”

– Charlie Bermant

Sutton named to new board

Gov. Chris Gregoire last week announced the appointment of former Bainbridge mayor Dwight Sutton to a commission that will explore the consolidation of regional transportation agencies.

“It’s intriguing,” said Sutton, who served as Bainbridge mayor from November 1997 to 2001. “There’s potential on this commission to make suggestions for smoother flow and attractive flow of public transportation.”

The as-yet unnamed commission will make policy recommendations on coordinating various public transportation agencies, including Washington State Ferries and bus and rail services.

“Dwight’s commitment to the people of Washington and his background in transportation and transit planning will make him an integral part of this commission,” Gregoire said in a statement.

Sutton played a key role in updating plans for State Route 305 and chaired the Kitsap Transit board. He also twice served as the chair of the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council.

“There’s something like 50 transportation agencies in the region,” he said. “The problem is that they don’t have coordination between themselves. We end up with some overlaps in service and some gaps.”

Improving links between WSF and Kitsap Transit is one issue Sutton would like to tackle while serving his 18-month term on the commission.

“How can we coordinate the 2,500 walk-on (ferry) passengers at peak hours and have there be transportation ready and available to whisk them away?” he asked. “That’s one simple example of good coordinated timing and volume capacity to serve the public in a better way.”

Gregoire on June 8 announced the appointments of the other eight members of the commission, including residents of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.

Former Seattle mayor Norm Rice and former Western Wireless CEO John Stanton were appointed co-chairs of the commission.

– Tristan Baurick

Inslee leads spying debate

An amendment authored by U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee to restrict the use of tax dollars for domestic surveillance was narrowly defeated in the House of Representatives last week.

“This would have ensured that we assertively and aggressively track terrorists the American way – by following the law,” the Bainbridge Democrat said. “It should have been a no-brainer.”

Inslee had hoped to reign in spying practices that fail to comply with the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and are not sanctioned by a warrant. His amendment failed by a vote of 207 to 219 before the House approved new budget allowances for domestic spying.

Authored by Inslee (D-1st District), Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the amendment would not have hampered efforts to eavesdrop on al-Qaida affiliates in the United States.

Inslee argued that the amendment would reinforce existing FISA law, which forbids eavesdropping on people inside the U.S. without a warrant.

“It’s bad enough that congressional leaders have abrogated oversight responsibility, but this is a new low,” said Inslee. “Now they’ve actually given their blessing to spend federal funds on illegal spying.”

According to Inslee, the president has secretly authorized federal agents to listen in on international communications involving people in the U.S. without court-approved warrants.

FISA, however, only allows exceptions in the 15 days after Congress declares war, and for up to 72 hours after electronic surveillance has been initiated.

– Tristan Baurick

Fun for all at July 3 dance

There’ll be dancing up and down Winslow Way in celebration of the 20th Annual Street Dance and BBQ from 6 to 11 p.m. July 3.

Washington Natural Brass gets the party started at 1 p.m. on the Gazebo Stage at Winslow Green. Stay on your feet for the Intensely Vigorous Dixieland Band at 2:30; folk singer Kaitlin Rose at 4; The Lubricators at 5:30; and Soundproof Highway at 7:30 p.m.

Members of the Odyssey Marimba Band ll open the evening’s entertainment at 5:30 p.m. at Winslow Mall, followed by the newly crowned Strawberry Festival King and Queen at 6:30. The Original Fenderskirts, a crowd favorite, start their set at 7.

Local groups, including members of Ovation! Musical Theater and The Swingin’ Hepcats, will perform at the Kid Zone Stage in front of Eagle Harbor Books beginning at 5:30 p.m. DJ Brant Butte takes over at 7 p.m.

Kid Zone returns at 6 p.m. with bigger and better inflatable fun – including Wall Climbing, the Bounce Carousel, the Giant Sabretooth Tiger Slide and the Rat Race Obstacle Course – plus sidewalk chalk and face painting.

Town & Country Market will fire up the grill and cook Luau Chicken and veggies to accompany jasmine rice for $10. Garden burgers and hot dogs will be offered for $8.

Children’s game tickets will be available for $1 through July 2 at Eagle Harbor Books.

This event is coordinated by the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association.

Life jackets for the Fourth

The U.S. Coast Guard will give away new life jackets to children under 12 years old during the island’s Grand Ole Fourth street celebration.

The life jackets are “good-quality gear” manufactured by Stearns and typically retail for $50, according to Loretta Rindal of the USCG Auxiliary, No. 48, which serves north Kitsap County.

Children brought to the USCG booth at the Commons on Brien Drive will be fitted for jackets, take a boating safety quiz and sign a contract agreeing to wear the jacket on docks and on the water.

The celebration takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is sponsored by the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce.

Take a hike, explore a pool

When the weather’s this good, it’s time to head outdoors.

A trio of outings planned by the Bainbridge Island Land Trust and the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park and Recreation District showcase the splendor of the island. They are:

• Birding With The Experts – Observe local species starting at 6 a.m. June 24

• Tide Pools at Rockaway Beach – Visit the best tide pool location on the island and meet the sea creatures starting at 9 a.m. July 8 (minus -1.4 tide at 9:40 a.m.) and at 11 a.m. July 11 (minus -3.2 tide at 11:46 a.m.)

• Shore-to-Shore Hike – Walk the trail from the Schel-Chelb Estuary to the beach at the bottom of the Close Trail beginning at 8 a.m. Aug. 19.

Come the fall, local botanists will lead a botanical walk to observe and identify the flora of the Peters property. This excusion will begin at 10 a.m. Oct. 7.

Admission to all the events is free, but pre-registration is required.

For information call the Land Trust at 842-1216.

– Rhona Schwartz