City
Councilman was spot on
The two letters in the July 9 Review decrying Councilman Barry Peters’ excellent and timely plea for civility totally missed the point (but I guess if the shoe fits, wear it)! He wasn’t saying there shouldn’t be constructive criticism but only that it should be objective and not personal, especially when directed at the staff. Most of the people I have talked with agree. One said, “Are those crazy people even reading the same letter I read?”
Mr. Peters was not setting up “an outrageous straw-man argument” as one letter asserts, when he pointed out the fact that four top management personnel have left the city for better paying jobs elsewhere, primarily due to the endless bickering, personal attacks and public assertions of wrong doing – a working climate that dedicated professionals trying to do their best will not tolerate. Most of us would do the same. Anyone doubting the reason for these excellent staffers leaving should read the Kitsap Sun article the same day, “Poisonous Politics Pushing City Hall’s Revolving Door,” which pretty well sums it up.
I think we need to foster a climate of cooperation, not dissension – leave our egos behind. Sure we have legitimate concerns, but we must work together toward the goal of making Bainbridge Island the best city it can be. And by the way, it would be helpful if we thanked our elected officials once in a while for the very tough job they do rather than poisoning the air with constant criticism.
Therefore, I along with many others, thank Councilman Peters for writing what he did and the nice way he did it.
BOB BURKHOLDER
Madison Avenue North
Library
Library cheers local teachers
On the Fourth of July at the Children’s Library Fair, several teachers invested some of their personal time to promote and encourage summer reading.
The Bainbridge Public Library and its board would like to recognize these energetic and giving public school teachers who helped staff the activities of the event, including Carol Baker (Wilkes, 1st grade), Bill Covert (Wilkes, 4th grade), Susan Morgridge (Ordway, 2nd grade), Richard Pearsall (Wilkes, 3rd grade), Warren Read (Wilkes, 4th grade) and Lois Walter (Ordway, kindergarten).
More than 100 kids and families participated in this two-hour event designed to showcase “Catch the Summer Reading Bug,” a Kitsap Regional Library program that rewards young readers with a free book.
Children made crafts, ran in a “bug juice” water relay race, listened to our island’s own prolific children’s author George Shannon tell folk tales, bought a book at the special Friends of the library book sale, and used their blue-and-red hand prints to create a U.S. flag that was carried in the parade.
There is an ongoing deep connection between libraries and teachers, and we are deeply appreciative for all they do, especially to those who go above and beyond as these teachers did.
REBECCA JUDD
Branch manager
Bainbridge Public Library
Community
Thanks for the cash for wash
We, the officers, students and director of the BHS Vocal Boosters, would like to extend our sincere thanks to the owner and employees of Chevron and the community at large.
Our July 5 car wash was a wonderful success and will contribute greatly to sending our choir to New York for performances and classes, as well as sponsoring other musical events to benefit students and the community.
Look for other choir-sponsored events in the near future!
ELLEN BLUNT, SALLY DONAHUE, NANCY HOUGHTON, CYNTHIA REES, DEBORAH HILL
More vigilance now needed
The man accused of molesting a 4-year-old girl at the pool has been released from jail (“Molestation case dismissed,” July 9) and has returned to our community. If he had painted on our roads instead, perhaps it would have been on the front page with a picture of the damage, and a flurry of letters would have come to the editor about the need for swift and severe punishment.
I’m not making light of vandalism in our community, I’d just like to ask you to think: What is really more important to you? What our streets look like or whether our children are safe?
While the legal system has played itself out in this case for now, what can we as a community do? Apparently what we cannot do is see a picture of this person so that we can be alert.
It would have been a true community service if the Review had sent a reporter to court so we could have a picture. For now, we can only wait to see if something happens again.
JILL CODY
Robinwood Drive
