Downtown
A few alternative post office locales
“Say buddy, can you spare any change or a couple ‘Forever’ postage stamps?”
Now that a wrecking ball is about to take out our main post office despite its new roof so we can keep T&C where it belongs, the street people like us need to speak up. We all need to examine at least six losses, like: 1) one-stop shopping; 2) seeing people in line we thought were dead; 3) any hope for better USPS architecture the next time around; 4) a dry place to recycle our junk mail and find a magazine; 5) passable stand-up tables so we can catch up on reading and City Hall hijinks; and 6) holiday mailings done only after six trips downtown.
Candidly, I am in favor of keeping them both downtown along with postman Syd Cox, but adding a few people-friendly changes. One would be placing on the streets again two dozen or more old time red, white and blue mail pick-up boxes. Another might be to locate a full service mini-USPS station in the City Hall’s under-utilized lobby using its roof overhang. A third is to provide electric-powered mail mobiles for circuit-riding among island communities, the senior center, library and housing complexes. Over time a few latte products should be added to the mail handling in order to keep the postage rates truly “Forever.”
R.O. CONOLEY
Sunset Drive
Judicial
These lawyers are
breaking the rules
(“Lawyers aren’t breaking rules,” Letters, July 23, ) brilliantly makes my point about the dire need for a higher standard for judicial conflict of interest than the current rules call for. If you are judicial candidate Greg Wall, read no further!
James MacPherson, attorney, Wall endorser and Wall campaign contributor, makes my case that the current legal standards allow a local attorney like Mr. Macpherson to both endorse and contribute money to the man or woman whom he will appear before in Kitsap Superior Court.
To Mr. MacPherson’s credit he has put his money (PDC records ~ 6/08 $100 contribution to Mr. Wall) where his mouth is (listed attorney endorsement on Wall’s campaign site). While the current exclusive clubbishness of campaign contributions and wink-wink-nod-nod top endorsement from the Kitsap Democrat political Godfather Prosecutor Russ Hauge are all to Mr. MacPherson’s liking, I still don’t like the smell of this campaign arrangement.
Give the process some fresh air and elect judicial candidate Danielson for his stand on judicial independence. Is it any wonder a candidate like Mr. Danielson, who threatens the sacred money practices of the Bar Association, does not get support from those threatened by real judicial independence?
Listen to Mr. Danielson explain his position on this key subject at Youtube.com (www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tgy0I2jGjc). I take my military commitment to professional integrity very seriously and expect my judges and judicial candidates to adhere to a standard higher than just the club rules.
CROSBY OLSEN
Soundview Drive
Parks
Don’t spend what you don’t have
I was disappointed to read that the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park and Recreation District is considering placing a levy on this year’s ballot to purchase more open space. With the dollar at an all-time low, our state and city government facing huge deficits, approved city projects being shelved and home foreclosure rates at an all-time high, it seems strange that the commissioners believe that this is the right time to ask the voters for more money.
Tad Sooter’s article on the Park Board’s proposal makes it appear that there is widespread support for this levy. A third of his article is based on a park district survey of one hundred respondents? Another survey, sponsored by the Trust for Public Land is also cited. For some reason, the name of the polling company and the number of respondents was not included. I have conducted hundreds of polls over the last 40 years and I seriously question these results.
I am all for purchasing open space and ensuring our rural life style on Bainbridge Island. The park district first has to prove that it can manage the land it already has. I encourage everyone to visit our local parks and sports fields and make their own judgment. I for one will oppose the levy and work against its passage.
TOM HUJAR
Gordon Drive
Community
‘Relay For Life’
raises close to $50K
I would like to thank everyone who participated in the third Annual Relay For Life of Bainbridge Island! I am proud to announce that the community of Bainbridge Island raised over $49,700. With donations still coming in, and accepted until Aug. 31, I anticipate our total to reach well over $50,000. Our top fundraising team was Blinx Babes, who raised over $7,374.00. The top individual fundraiser was Stephanie Jackson, who raised over $3,200, and the best-decorated campsite was Wendy’s Walkers with Team Captain Laurie Isenman. We are deeply grateful to all the hard work put in by all the teams, volunteers, vendors, and community donors. We truly were able to Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back. Thank you to all our committee members, Dawna Kramer, Sandra Anderson, Linda Henry, Pam Dardis, Pam Raber, Jack Petty, and Mary Clipsham.
If you are interested in volunteering at any level for next year’s event, please contact the American Cancer Society at 1 (800) ACS-2345. If you would like to donate to Relay, donations will be accepted until Aug. 31 either at our Web site, www.events.cancer.org/rflbainbridgeislandwa, or by contacting the American Cancer Society. We look forward to continued success in 2009, as we continue our efforts to make this a cancer free world.
TERRI SEGADELLI
Cancer Survivor & Chair
Relay For Life of Bainbridge Island
‘In Bloom’ was a blooming success
Thanks to so many volunteers, supporters, and garden enthusiasts, the 20th annual Bainbridge in Bloom achieved a wonderful success on the weekend of July 11-13! The list of those deserving thanks is extensive, so we appreciate that this public forum allows us to salute the hundreds of people who helped this year’s Bloom flourish. It is a real pleasure to work collaboratively with garden owners, area businesses, vendors and community volunteers. We thank you for your spirited enthusiasm and generous support.
Bainbridge in Bloom is the primary fundraising event of the Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council. The success of each Bloom directly impacts the Council’s ability to offer numerous programs and services. One such beneficiary is the Bainbridge Island Arts Education Community Consortium, an arts integration collaboration that reaches nearly 4,000 area public school children. A successful Bloom also assures that each island mailbox receives a copy of Bainbridge Island Currents, our quarterly magazine.
So, we send a big thank you to all those in the community who added to the success! Your passion for gardening and for the work of BIAHC has planted important seeds in our community.
ZON EASTES
Executive Director
Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council
Animals are in need of our support, too
Thank you to Tad Sooter for highlighting the impact of the economic downturn on Island nonprofit organizations (“A chilly summer for island nonprofits,” July 12).
Although not mentioned as a social service group, PAWS does help a great many low-income people with their pets’ veterinary needs. Recently, the local animal welfare group has been experiencing both an increase in requests for assistance and a decrease in donations.
It seems that more people are out of work or their jobs and income are related to hard-hit fields. People like Realtors and contractors who suddenly find they are unable to cover the cost when their pet becomes ill or injured.
PAWS was established in 1975 by three Bainbridge women to serve the north end of the county. We’re not part of any other local or national organization. Over the past decade, PAWS has paid $431,835 to help with neutering and emergency vet care needs of 5,639 pets in our community.
PAWS depends on the donations of people who care about the well being of pets and whose generosity extends to the pets of those less fortunate, especially at this critical time.
JUDY HARTSTONE
Executive Director
PAWS of Bainbridge Island
Theater
Don’t miss the hit ‘Into the Woods’
Having recently attended opening night of “Into The Woods” presented by the Ovation Musical Theatre, I just want to encourage people to attend this musical event.
The cast of this show is able to perform the complicated Sondheim score with aplomb. This is a fast-moving composition and requires good diction as well as musicality, and it is not often that one finds a group of people who are primed for the task. As an extra bonus, the costumes are outstanding.
This is a show about fairy tales and magic, and the way that the musical conductor operates behind a scrim and still manages to keep everything moving swiftly is amazing. Maybe it’s really magic after all!
By the way, people may be discouraged by the construction at the high school, but there is parking available close to the auditorium.
PATRICIA SCHLOSSTEN-PARLY
Finch Place
Environment
The invasive tansy
ragwort must go
This year we have an increased infestation of toxic tansy ragwort along our roads. This is a very serious state and county-listed noxious weed.
If it is in your neighborhood or on roads where you drive or walk, be a good neighbor and help get rid of it. It is blooming right now, and spent flower heads are forming seeds.
Pulling is the best treatment, but with our current dry conditions and the plant’s difficult roots, that may not be possible.
In this case, cut off the flower heads, dropping them directly into a sack or baggie to prevent escape of the seeds.
Then, put the bagged flower heads into the garbage, not your compost or yard waste.
For pictures to help you recognize it and for directions regarding herbicide treatment see the following state and county Web sites:
http://kitsap.wsu.edu/noxious_weed/dirty_dozen/TansyRagwort.pdf
http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/Senecio_jacobaea.html
We are winning the battle against knotweed. Now let’s get rid of tansy ragwort.
RACHEL SMITH, Weed Warrior
Seaborn Road
