Bainbridge voters on Tuesday approved a tax increase that will put almost $1 million a year toward new parks and open space preservation.

The Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park and Recreation District’s levy lid lift, which would pay for the acquisition and maintenance of new parklands, was approved with over 54 percent of the vote, according to election results released by the Kitsap County Auditor on Tuesday night.

“I’m so happy,” said Barb Trafton, co-chair of the pro-levy Bainbridge People for Parks. “It’s a very difficult environment now (for a levy lid lift) with the economy looking the way it does, but Bainbridge Island historically supports its parks, its environment and facilities to support our youth.”

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As we enter the month for giving thanks, Islander columnist Becky Fox Marshall says she’s thankful that the long feast of election politics is done.

My timing is simply lousy. Because of immutable details like deadlines and press runs, I write this two days before the election, and nearly three weeks before Thanksgiving.

And now I don’t even know what time it is, because we reverted back to Standard Time this weekend and I don’t recall which clocks I adjusted.

I do know it’s too late for politicking – and surely we’re all weary from having politics in our faces for months – and too soon for holiday reflections – although surely we’re all excited about stuffing turkey in our faces for a night or two.

Suspended as I am between great hope and deep fear, between Daylight Savings and Standard times, there is no alternative but to consider, regardless of the outcome of the election, that for which I am grateful. So here it goes.

I am grateful for all the people who got me through the last few months – that includes my family and dear friends and coworkers, and especially Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. I’ve spent enough time with these people to consider them family – and I’m going to miss them!

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A certain coffee chain I will not mention by name (hint: it’s name starts with star and ends with bucks) is handing out free drip coffees to thirsty voters today. Or, at least they were. Turns out the giveaway violates Washington state election laws prohibiting gifts for voters. So, voter or not, you can get a free coffee today at the island’s only coffee stand branded with the mermaid logo. (hint: it’s hidden inside that super market chain with a name that starts with safe and ends with way).

Two high school students have been arrested following weekend vandalism to the new Bainbridge High School track, according to the Bainbridge Island Police Department.

A 16-year-old Bainbridge student came forward to police today and said he was involved with the vandalism, in which the suspects dragged a piece of machinery behind a motorized cart, causing about $20,000 in damages to the track.

With the 16-year-old’s information, police then interviewed a 15-year-old Bainbridge High School student, who was allegedly found to be riding aboard the cart during the vandalism.

Police learned the driver of the cart was allegedly a 16-year-old North Kitsap High School student.

Officers took the NK student and the 15-year-old Bainbridge student to the Kitsap County Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of first-degree malicious mischief. They allowed the 16-year-old who reported the vandalism to go home with his parents, pending his own possible charges.

Police are still asking anyone with information about the vandalism to call (206) 842-5211.

Vandals dragged machinery across the newly installed Bainbridge High School track sometime over the weekend, causing $20,000 worth of damage, according to police and district officials.

Police went to the school Saturday and found that a motorized cart brought on site by contractors had been driven across the track with a piece of equipment dragging behind it.

The equipment was not on wheels and appears to have bounced along, causing dozens of divots ranging in size from six inches to a foot in diameter. The track surface, a spongy rubber material, was not fully firm when the vandals struck.

The artificial turf field nearby did not appear to have been damaged. The stadium was encircled by an 8-foot-high chain-link fence covered in plastic sheeting. A second, 3-foot-high chain link fence was around the track.

School district spokeswoman Pam Keyes said the vandalism could delay the track’s use into spring.

Head football coach Andy Grimm said the incident went “beyond a high school prank.”

“We’re very frustrated,” Grimm said as BHS football players drilled on a grass field outside the stadium. “From a coach’s perspective, we’re looking at a beautiful facility, so it’s hard to imagine a person doing something like this.

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U.S. Rep. Jay Inlsee of Bainbridge Island was mentioned in a Politico report as one of two picks for the next interior secretary and the only Washingtonian named as a possible Barack Obama appointee.

Politico’s list of possible Obama appointees was compiled with input from sources close to the presidential candidate.

The interior secretary oversees of the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal agencies.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the environmental lawyer and son of Robert F. Kennedy, was also mentioned as a potential candidate for the job.

Two drunk drivers tried to give police the slip this week. Both gave up after less than a mile of swerving and veering with police in hot pursuit.

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A KIRO TV News investigation revealed that workers on the Bainbridge Island-Seattle ferry route were rounding up separated paper and plastic in on-board recycling bins…and tossing it all in the trash.

In the TV footage, KIRO reporter Chris Halsne confronts a Washington State Ferries worker who was throwing a cart full of recyclables in a trash bin.

“I don’t want to see this on KIRO News or anywhere else,” said the ferry worker before throwing a bag full of newspapers into a trash bin.

Halse then gets the runaround from two WSF supervisors who refuse to answer this basic question: why trash the presorted recyclable items?

KIRO News staff had used hidden cameras and specially marked recycled items to track the items’ trips from recycle bins (with signs declaring “Recycling. So simple it works!”) to the trash in all 22 trips they documented.

“It’s such a waste,” one ferry rider told KIRO.

“I feel deeply betrayed,” said another.

One rider said the fault lies not with the workers but with their bosses.

“Management isn’t setting the tone,” he said.

WSF management told KIRO they had “no idea” that recycling was being trashed, but vowed to set things straight now that it was brought to their attention.

To view KIRO’s story and the raw footage of ferry workers getting caught in the act, click here and find the links on the right side of the page.