News Roundup — Schools cut water usage/Islander wins for food, peace/Tech levy meetings set/City seeking farm expert

Published 2:00 pm Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Schools cut water usage

In response to Gov. Christine Gregoire’s declaration of a statewide drought emergency, the Bainbridge Island School District is cutting the water to grounds and fields by 50 percent.

At Bainbridge High, Woodward and Sakai, “field irrigation systems…will not be activated until the moisture levels in the ground fall to a level that begins to cause the grass to stress,” facilities director Mike Currie said in a recent report to Superintendent Ken Crawford.

The fields will be closely monitored for signs of over or under watering and adjusted as needed to maintain viable playing surfaces, Currie noted.

The district is the third local public agency to take proactive measures in the face of what is expected to be an unusually dry summer. Two weeks ago, the city urged island resident to be conservative in their water use this summer, while the fire department has been training in the suppression of brush fires.

– Rhonda Parks Manville

Islander wins for food, peace

Islander Jerilyn Brusseau has received the 2005 Humanitarian Award from the International Association of Culinary Professionals, honoring her work as both restauranteur and humanitarian, by promoting cross-cultural understanding through sharing food.

Known locally as the inventor of the recipe for the Cinnabon pastry, Brusseau founded Peace Table in 1986 during the Cold War to create shared culinary experiences between the U.S. and Soviet Union.

In 1995, she and her late husband Danaan Parry co-founded the nonprofit PeaceTrees Vietnam, an organization based on Bainbridge Island that works toward land mine removal in Vietnam, helps victims of land mines, plants trees and promotes friendship between the U.S. and Vietnam.

To date, 110 acres of land have been cleared of over 1,400 unexploded landmines and bombs.

For more information, see www.peacetreesvietnam.org or call 842-7986.

– Tina Lieu

Tech levy meetings set

Community members can learn about the use of technology in local public schools and the May 17 Technology Levy during a series of meetings hosted by school Parent Teacher/Student Organizations on the following dates:

• Friday, April 1, 9:30 a.m., at Sonoji Sakai Intermediate School.

• Tuesday, April 12, 9:30 a.m., at Woodward Middle School.

• Wednesday, April 13, 9:30 a.m., at Bainbridge High School.

• Thursday, April 14, 9:30 a.m., at Wilkes Elementary School.

• Thursday, April 14, 6:45 p.m., at Commodore Options School.

• Thursday, April 21, 9:30 a.m., at Blakely Elementary School.

• Friday, April 22, 8:15 a.m., at Ordway Elementary School.

At each meeting, school district staff members will share facts regarding the use of technology.

There is no state funding for technology, so a technology levy is one of the special levies allowed by the state.

Short-term, special levies generate revenue for projects or replacements associated with capital purchases in transportation, technology, or minor capital improvements. The minimal federal grants for technology are diminishing.

The first technology levy for local schools was voted on in 1996 and expired four years later. This is the second technology levy proposed by the school board. Funds will be collected from 2006 through 2009.

Those with questions can call the school district’s Community Relations office at 780-1398.

City seeking farm expert

The City of Bainbridge Island is seeking a consultant to assess city-owned agricultural land and make recommendations that will provide for the economic success, active use, preservation and long-term management of agriculture on the island’s urban fringe.

The city owns six properties, totaling over 60 acres, that have historically been used as farmland.

These lands were donated to the city or purchased with public funds specifically for the purpose of retaining agricultural land and farming activities on the island.

The city properties include the 15-acre Suyematsu farm on Day Road, the eight-acre M&E tree farm off the highway at Lovgren Road, the 15-acre Johnson Farm and the former Bentryn property’s nearly 12 acres on Day Road.

Once hired, the consultant will craft partnerships with other government agencies and nonprofit organizations skilled in agricultural land management.

The consultant will then develop strategies that promote public access to the farms and educational opportunities.

Fund-raising options, farming incentives and agricultural marketing would also fall under the consultant’s possible duties.

The mayor’s office will take applications for the consulting position until April 20.

Call 780-3763 for more information.