The Island Wildlife Shelter at Bloedel Reserve has named Kol Medina, a Bainbridge Island attorney specializing in environmental law, as the shelter’s new half-time executive director.

Medina, a Stanford University Law School graduate, has served on the board of directors for the shelter for three years, and was its vice president before resigning to become executive director.

He will be in charge of administration and development, while Sandra Fletcher continues to serve as director of wildlife rehabilitation, caring for the wild creatures brought to the shelter.

“We created this position to ease the load on the director of wildlife rehabilitation, and to provide a sound financial base for the shelter,” said Gil Bailey, board president.

The shelter, located on five acres next to Bloedel Reserve, cares for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. It serves about 500 birds and animals each year, from Bainbridge and Kitsap County.

HRB gets $10K grant

The nonprofit Housing Resources Board recently received a $10,680 grant, to help fund construction of a new caretaker’s home in Manzanita Park, replacing an abandoned trailer.

Administered by the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council, the grant comes from a new state fund established to preserve and maintain affordable housing and related programs.

The grant money will pay for staff needed to do the necessary paperwork to get the construction going, such as requesting bids from contractors, obtaining leases and working with the city.

“It’s a small piece, but it’s a fundamental piece,” said Bill Reddy, HRB executive director. “Any organization needs to find the funds to start the process. Whether preservation or new construction, early funding of this type is vital and the KRCC recognizes that.”

The planned 1,176-square-foot, three-bedroom house will be rented to a family making 80 percent or less of Kitsap median income – $49,440 for a family of four.

The park district, in turn, increases park safety for free by having residents living there.

“This is a win-win-win situation,” Reddy said.

The HRB is still working on funding for construction. The same model is planned for a home at Meigs Park and possibly John Nelson Park.

The arrangement is similar to the preservation of the Sadie Woodman house, which was moved to city land in 2001 and is rented out as affordable housing.

“We’ve done it before and it works really well,” Reddy said.