“Your kids could be slumped down in their desks at school, snoring through yet another period of rote book learnin’. Or they could be in Doug Olsen’s science class at Sakai Intermediate School, using a Martian colony simulator – complete with working solar panel – to study the energy requirements for successful colonization of another planet.That they have access to the latter – purchase price, with all its mind-expanding possibilities: $1,600 – is a tribute to the efforts of the Bainbridge Education Support Team, better known as BEST. “
“City officials, anxious to keep Police Chief Bill Cooper on Bainbridge Island as he pursues the same post in Federal Way, went so far as to explore the possibility of using city funds to purchase Cooper’s house in Olympia.That, and other economic incentives explored by city officials, however, were abandoned as either unconstitutional or in violation of state laws, city Administrator Lynn Nordby said this week.We’re continuing to investigate the things we can do, but we’ve got to be careful, Nordby said. “
“If tax-cutting Initiative 722 goes into effect this year while its constitutionality is being challenged, the Bainbridge Island Fire District is in good shape to absorb the revenue loss.But if the measure is upheld, the district will need to find new sources of revenue for its capital program. “
“Students in Amukarat, Uganda, don’t have pencils or paper – using their fingers to write their assignments in the dirt.So Peter Emau, a Uganda native and Bainbridge resident, has island students helping the African village that lacks school supplies, books and printed literature. It is just so exciting, Emau said of the project, which will see a series of educational booklets sent to Uganda. It keeps on expanding.Emau, a research scientist at the University of Washington, knew that essential educational tools are absent in the village schools of Amukarat. The project began when Emau’s brother, Gabriel Emau, a 30-year veteran teacher in Amukarat, asked Emau to print up his teaching notes so that his students could have something tangible they could learn from. “
“The hours are short, and the pay beats minimum wage by a couple of bucks an hour. It even comes with a free flag.But takers are few – zero, actually – for the job of afternoon school-crossing guard at the High School Road/ Madison Avenue intersection, leaving parents concerned once again for the safety of young students after school.We’ve been frustrated by that, said Ordway Elementary School Principal Bruce Colley, of the paucity of interest in the job. We haven’t given up hope, by the way, he added. Anyone who wants to pick up roughly a half-hour’s employment…Come on down! “
“Editor’s note: This is the first story in an intermittent series examining the city’s comprehensive plan.* * * * *Putting half the island’s future growth in Winslow underpins Bainbridge Island’s Comprehensive Plan. Certainly, that directive fuels much of the public debate about development.But that apparently simple idea can confuse more than clarify – not everyone agrees on where Winslow actually is, a question that some say was never really settled during the comprehensive planning process. “
“Where’s Winslow?With our five-year review of the Bainbridge Island Comprehensive Plan now under way – and, predicated as that plan is on Winslow being the hub of future growth – we thought some definition of terms might be useful.After all, underpinning the whole comp-planning project has been the notion of putting 50 percent of future development in the Winslow area. As we found out, there has been some disagreement about the boundaries of our little urban growth area (within the larger, official UGA of incorporated Bainbridge), with hopes and perceptions varying. Our findings are relayed on page A1 of this issue. “
“A new island development envisions the comforts of home, the amenities of a hotel and the security of instant medical services in one package.That’s the concept behind the Meridian on Bainbridge Island, a mixed-use development planned for the north side of Knechtel Way , between the Helpline House grounds to the west and the dentist office to the east, along Ericksen Avenue.The Meridian will have 15,000-square feet of medical office space – almost twice the size of the Virginia Mason Winslow Clinic – on the ground floor, and 18 condominiums on the second and third floors. The residences will be age-restricted, requiring at least one occupant to be 55 or older. Residents will have concierge service, a town car and on-site catering available.The prices reflect the level of amenities. “
“We’re Number Four!That statement may not make for a rousing high school cheer, but it’s a pretty proud proclamation of Bainbridge High School’s place in the pantheon of central Puget Sound secondary schools.BHS ranks fourth among 66 public high schools in King, Kitsap and Snohomish counties in two key prestige categories – reputation ranking and first-year University of Washington student grades – as compiled in the Seattle Times School Guide, an annual comprehensive guide to regional homes of secondary learning published this week. “
“You could say they put the bureau in bureaucracy.That’s because the city’s executive and finance departments exist in a nebulous area of public service in which, for the average citizen, not much readily apparent is done.Storm drains overflow in your neighborhood? Call public works. Building permit take too long? Gripe about the planning department. Get a speeding ticket? Hate the cops.But what do taxpayers get for their buck from the second floor of city hall? “
“They worked side by side for 35 years, but never collaborated. Now Images of Bainbridge Island marks the debut of Gerald and Rosemarie Dowell as a fine arts team. I made a decision early on to stay away from Gerald’s medium and he did the same with me, Rosemarie says. Gerald adds, It’s a ‘turf’ thing. The Dowells may complete each other’s sentences, but each retains a distinct artistic identity. In Images of Bainbridge Island, the sensibilities are complementary, as Rosemarie renders close detail of landscape with pen and ink, while Gerald uses the luminosity of watercolor to capture broad vistas. “
“Saying that tax-limitation Initiative 722 has all the constitutional defects of Initiative 695 and then some, the city of Bainbridge Island filed suit this week to nullify the Tim Eyman-sponsored measure.He’s put better window-dressing on 722, said Thomas Ahearne, the attorney representing the city. But substantively, it has the same problems.Ahearne, a Bainbridge Island resident and partner in the Seattle firm of Foster, Pepper & Sheffelman, also represented the city in its successful challenge to I-695, which replaced the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax with a flat $30 license-tab fee and required a popular vote to raise taxes. “
“Two cops and three computers.That’s the essence of the new budget items sought by Bainbridge Police for next year.We’re doing alright, Chief Bill Cooper said, assessing the department. We’ve got a good facility now, good equipment, good support. Life is pretty good.Authorized to have 21 commissioned officers this year, the department is currently down to 19 because of turnover. Two desired candidates have been identified, Cooper said, but academy time and other training will keep them off the beat for months.For 2001, citing an increase in calls for service and internal reorganization, Cooper would like three more officers as well. The preliminary budget from the mayor’s office would give him two.One would be a full-time traffic enforcement officer, to deal with ongoing citizen complaints of speeding drivers on local roadways. The position would be a permanent day-shift assignment, with duties including radar enforcement in problem areas as well as accident investigation.The second would be a deputy chief, to handle administrative duties including overseeing day-to-day department operations; personnel and financial issues; and fleet and equipment management. “
