County
Assessments are exorbitant
It has been a few weeks since the Kitsap County “Notice of Value” statements were sent to property owners. We received our statement with some consternation. As was reported, our home was decreased in value from 2008 about 15 percent for the 2009 assessment. However, the dirt we have lived on for 22 years magically increased in value by 83 percent in 2008, according to the Kitsap County assessor.
If you too have seen similar or greater increases in value of your property on Bainbridge Island, I would like to hear from you. I believe these extraordinary increases have been caused by the large deficit in the current county budget, and the need to raise money from those with properties that might erroneously be assessed at exorbitant levels. If you have experienced this dramatic increase in property value from the County, please contact me at irenicmeister@gmail.com. I feel that we have a case to make a class-action protest against the county’s assessments for 2009.
John and Susan Anderson
Winslow
Farmstock
Festival draws rave reviews
If you weren’t there you missed an amazing event! I had a wonderful time at the Farmstock Festival last weekend.
The music and the venue were amazing. The farmland and trees were the perfect backdrop to the music and art. It was such a treat to see all of the bands perform in such a lovely setting.
What a coup it is to enjoy this caliber of musicians on Bainbridge Island farmland. All of the bands were awesome. The Art Expo was well organized and it was great to see such variety of talented artists.
Bravo! to all of the musicians, Elizabeth Gadbois and her team on the success of Farmstock. I am looking forward to next year’s event and you should too.
Lisa Garza
Bainbridge Island
Arts
Help shape public art
Thanks to Lindsay Latimore for the article on the Creative Grounds project and the bus shelter that will be built by the Olympus Beach neighborhood with funds from the Bainbridge Island Public Art Program. It was perceptive of Lindsay to tie this project to the Public Art Committee’s current work on a six-year public art master plan, which is another means of engaging this community in shaping the future of public art on Bainbridge Island.
The dynamic Public Art Committee deserves acknowledgment for its inspired work. Klaas Hesselink, Kelly Davidson and Robin Purcell are responsible for Creative Grounds project leadership. Landscape Architect Maryann Kirkby is working on a project for the Marina District and keeps an eye on Waterfront Park developments. Sue Entress contributes inspired graphic design and connects school children with the public art collection through docent-led tours. Amy Aspell is in charge of membership development and works in multiple arenas. Elyse Kane led the Juried Artists Roster project and continues to influence PAC direction with her background in sustainable building practice. Amy Hughes provides technology expertise for the JAR website and PAC digital presentations, Kate Ruffing contributes professional marketing and communications expertise and Martha Droge brings her urban planning and project management background to the PAC meeting table. Toby Quitslund, our steadfast leader, is involved in all that PAC does as its chair and liaison to the BIAHC Board of Directors.
The Public Art Committee is seeking new members. Anyone interested in joining should call 842-7901 or go to www.artshum.org for more information.
Janice Shaw
Manager
Bainbridge Island Public Art Program
