Seeking Silverdale and Central Kitsap

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I know people in Seabeck have been wondering what’s been going on with the proposed marina, and I’ve heard the rumor mill was churning faster over the last few weeks as yet another summer is about to pass and nothing has been done.

After a lot of phone calls in the last month to find out what was going on, I learned Wednesday the marina was told informally by the Department of Ecology that their request for a conditional permit, as it stands, could not be approved.

Usually when I work on stories like this it’s relatively easy to predict what the outcome will be. In this case, I don’t know what will happen.

Talking with CK Commissioner Josh Brown, he is very adamant that this project move forward. He believes the project is important not only for Seabeck, but also the county. He has pledged to get the county working on a site-specific amendment to its shoreline master plan, to make sure this can be built. (Food for thought: it is relatively unheard of for the county to do such a thing, that shows how much they want this).

When I spoke with the ecology planners who worked on the application, they were also optimistic about the project moving forward, if the county were to amend its code.

So far so good right? Two big agencies agreeing to get things done.

Then I talked with Erik Bentzen. He is the Poulsbo yacht surveyor who bought the property with four other investors from Seattle. He, unlike the county and ecology, was not as positive about the outcome.

While he didn’t flat out say the project was done, he didn’t leave much hope. I think that was in part because of his frustrations with ecology.

According to Bentzen their group set up a feasibility meeting, well before they entered the permitting process, with the county and ecology to iron out concerns ahead of time in hopes to keep the permitting process as simple as possible.

At the time (more than two years ago) they were told by the agencies the project looked good. Then in March of this year they were surprised to hear from ecology that the department had issues with the scope (or linear feet) of the project, according to Bentzen.

In my conversation with Geoff Tallent, the ecology planner working on the application approval, he said they presented the county and the investor group with their concerns in March and gave them options that would help the project meet ecology’s concerns. Those options included the county changing its code, the marina size being reduced, or the chance for the applicant to present information to show the proposed marina would be a replacement, not expansion, of the existing facility.

According to ecology, the group and county chose the last option, spending the next few months trying to provide historical data that would prove the marina they proposed was in line with the former facility. The county also tried to show that water area had been regularly used by boat traffic dating back hundreds of years.

Ultimately it came down to a difference in opinion, according to Brown.

In speaking with ecology, they reiterated that they believe the project is an improvement from the existing conditions, and that the project is done extremely well. But the bottom line is county code wouldn’t allow it, and they have to follow the law. They know the community and the county want the project, but they can’t make an exception.

The county is scheduled to meet with Bentzen and the other marina investors next week to decide what the next course of action will be. Brown wants to get going on the amendment, but he also wants to make sure the marina group is willing to stick it out.

Bentzen said right now he’s not sure if that will happen. His main concern is their permits are set to run out in the start of 2009 and he’s not sure if they’ll get an extension. Also, he’s a somewhat skeptical of how quick the site-specific amendment process will be, since he’s heard ecology doesn’t consider them a priority — meaning they have no idea when that might get approved and then implemented.

I hope to know more next week after that meeting, and will plan to write an update story, and update blog entry on where the project is headed — the scrap pile, or wall of fame?

Right now though, it looks like Seabeck’s marina dreams may be heading out with the tide.

Here’s a run down of the other stories I’ve written on this project, for background information:

Dec. 15, 2006

Jan. 25, 2007

May 11, 2007 (Chris Dunagan covered the hearing examiner meeting for me)

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Have no idea what Flugtag means? That’s OK, neither did I. But it sounded somewhat familiar, so what did I do? The same thing anyone my age would do: I Googled it.

Just as I thought, Flugtag is the event sponsored by Red Bull, where people throw themselves off a 30-foot tall deck into the water. Oh yeah, while strapped into a homemade, self propelled flying contraption.

Sound like fun? Sound like something you’d only do after you’ve put back a few? (bottles that is) Yeah, me too.

But, two Silverdale residents are doing just that this weekend — and they’ll be sober. Chris Arend and David Shamrell have spent the last month building a replica P-51 Mustang airplane in Chris’ garage at his apartment complex off Ridgetop Boulevard. The single-seater airplane is most commonly known for its speed and its ability to fend off Hitler’s troops during World War II.

The pair, both mechanical engineering majors from Gonzaga, have never done anything like this. They say they saw the ad on TV (you know the one where the guy wearing a cape rides a bike off the pier into the water and you say, why would someone do that?), and then they looked up the event online and decided to enroll.

They had to submit their plans ahead of time, to be approved to enter, and used a computer simulation model. They also created blue prints, pasted them to Chris’ garage wall and started building.

Chris’ wife Emily has been involved, as has David’s fiance — although the pair are set to marry at the end of August, so she’s been busy finishing their wedding planning. The four, plus their friend Baraka Poulin (another mechanical engineering student) are the team that will compete Saturday. Their name is B.A.M.F (I’ll let you figure that one out on your own).

They’re pretty excited, and I can’t wait to hear from them to see how they do. Because they’ve created a real airplane, their chances of going the farthest distance are pretty high. And according to Chris, after looking at other sketches on the Red Bull web site of their fellow competitors, they think they have a good chance at winning.

If they do place in the top three here’s what they could win: 1) A trip to Austria; 2) A trip to California to see the Red Bull air show; 3) A sky-diving trip/experience.

Also, there’s the chance for the people’s choice award, which is determined by people voting. The winners of that will receive a prize, although it isn’t revealed until the winner is announced. Supposedly it’s a pretty cool award. So, even though most people in our area won’t be able to watch the local kids compete, you can vote via text message to help them win the People’s Choice Award. The polls open at 11 a.m. Saturday and there is no limit on the number of text messages that could be sent.

Text “Team 12″ to 72855, to help them win.

Ps, just so you realize how dedicated these guys have been to their project, the graduated from Gonzaga in May and were hired as nuclear engineers at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard about a month ago. Since then they’ve balanced their new jobs — and professional life — with their newfound airplane building hobby. They’re already talking about next year — where they think they might build a submarine instead, having more fun with the project.

Good luck team BAMF! (I never thought I’d say those words).

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In case you have been under a rock for the last few weeks, or months, Whaling Days is happening this weekend – starting Friday with the opening of the beer garden at 5 p.m. and the regular fireworks show to follow at 10 p.m.

Initially a street fair was plan to start at 5 p.m., but after the changing of street closure times from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., I don’t know what the final decision was on having the vendors out Friday night.

If you’ve never been to Whaling Days before here’s the gist: It’s a three-day event that takes over Old Town Silverdale and the waterfront park. There are food booths, vendors selling various goods, carnival rides, live entertainment — including a family stage — a beer garden, and numerous other events.

Those events include the Whale of Run, Tour de Kitsap bike event, the Dyes Inlet Dash where Hawaiian Outrigger canoes compete in a 500 meter sprint, the Dandy Lions Grand Parade, a pancake breakfast, the Silverdale Rotary’s Great Kitsap Duck Race, and probably a whole lot more that I can’t remember right now.

Each event has registration, and I think most are still open, and varying start times over Saturday and Sunday. To see complete information on each event, or to learn how to register, go to the Whaling Days Web site, where you can click on each event and it will take you to the right page to find that info out. The Web site also gives a run down of the entertainment line up for the weekend on the main stage and family stage. This year the Joey James Dean Band is the Saturday night headliner, and they’re expected to begin at 8 p.m.

Enjoy the sunshine, the event, and I’ll see you Sunday at the duck races.

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Last weekend I was at the Silverdale Beach Hotel, hanging out with the Manatad family and learning how to bake a pig in an imu (or ground oven), for the hotel’s second annual Hawaiian Luau. While it was a little early in the morning for me — I was at the hotel at 5:15 a.m. — it was by far a great way to spend my Saturday.

The family was great — and when I say family I mean faaaaaamily. Dina Manatad, marketing director for the hotel, had her family come in from Oahu, as well as the Auburn area and beyond. Her brother, his two sons and granddaughter flew in from Oahu. (Her brother explained to me he is one of 14; his mom had four daughters and 10 sons. Everyone then had a number of children, resulting in more than 30 grandkids, and about the same number of great-grandkids. As you can see, the family is very large. And loving).

Dina’s brother, Candido Manatad, Jr. and his son Candido Manatad III, were the main “chefs” of the day, however the entire family was involved in the process. The younger Candido, or Dido, explained to me that their family has been baking kalua pigs for more than 50 years. He has done it for 30 years-plus. In that time they’ve set up a system where every member knows what needs to be done, and what their role is without being asked.

It was pretty fun watching the various cousins, uncles and friends move around the smoking pit, cutting the pig, and prepping everything for the 12 hours of baking. You know the saying “too many cooks in a kitchen”? That was not the case here. They moved like a well oiled machine.

Through the entire thing they were joking with each other, and recalling family memories. Unfortunately I didn’t catch everyone’s names, but one member of the family told me for his son’s first birthday they cooked 3, 150-pound, pigs in three imus. They had 300 to 350 people there for the celebration.

They also told me a story about a family friend who had a party and 4,000 people came to that pig roast. Can you even imagine? Through the entire day – morning and then again when I returned in the evening for the uncovering of the pig – the family was so kind and inviting. They let me in to their circle and shared their family stories with me, as well as their tasty food. It made me feel welcome, and I enjoyed every minute of the day. (It made up for me having to wake up at 4 a.m.!)

I had some issues getting the video posted this weekend, because of disk space, but it finally was put up Monday, and after all the hard work and time I put into it, I really want everyone to check it out. So yes, I am shamelessly plugging myself. However, I really want people to see the other side of luaus; to understand the hard work that goes into cooking the pig for people to enjoy.

Candido and Dido said they usually do the kalua pig for special occasions — the first birthday, graduation and of course weddings. Candido has an imu at his house where he cooks the pig, so when people need one, he’s the man they go to. They also have family traditions that play into the cooking — like the marinating of the pig (they use a Hawaiian salt/soysauce mixture) and how they place the pig in the imu (the head always faces east because that’s how their grandfathers and beyond have always done it).

Please check out the video, if you haven’t already. It’s a lot of fun. Just be forewarned there are some shots of the pig before it’s cooked…so if you’re a vegetarian or have a weak stomach you may want to close your eyes during those parts and just enjoy the music.

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Never been to Hawaii? Been, but never experienced a real luau? Well folks, your chance to have a little sunshine, mai tais, poi and anything else tropical is here.

Contrary to a story that ran in Saturday’s paper, the Silverdale Beach Hotel’s authentic Hawaiian Luau is scheduled for THIS Saturday, July 19. (There was a mishap somewhere along the lines, which is why the date was wrong in the paper. We’ve since written a correction and made sure it’s clear online).

The event sounds like a lot of fun. And, for those complaining their vacation budgets are too tight this year because of the rising costs of, well everything, you can splurge on the hotel’s event, and pretend at least for the night that you’re in Hawaii (even if there aren’t any palm trees or humidity, there will be water and sunshine, what else could you ask for?).

It sounds like the event was a big hit last year, so if you’re interested, call the hotel at 360-698-1000 to reserve your tickets.

Also, I’ll be up bright at early Saturday to get video of the pig cooking in the ground, and will be back in the evening for the ceremony before everyone gets to eat the kalua pig (kaula means “cooked in the earth”).

Keep your eyes out for my video of what it takes to cook a pig in the ground, and the cultural significance of the luau and the baking of the pig. I’ll also get some shots of the luau, so those of you who can’t make it can at least experience the event for a couple minutes through the “big screen” of your computer.

The read more about the luau, check out my story.

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Yup, I’m here in the new blog world of “pugetsoundblogs.” It’s pretty interesting…from the admin side there’s a whole lot more buttons to push and larger fonts, etc. to play around with. While I consider myself technically savvy, I’m fully admitting I don’t know how advanced I’ll get with the blog. I guess it will just take some playing around.

For all my faithful readers, I hope I didn’t lose you in the transition, where would I be without my coworkers who read my blog sporadically? ;o) (I’m not kidding, I have five people who subscribe and of those I think three or four are my coworkers, and I bet they don’t even read me half the time!).

Regardless, here I am…I hope to continue my random posts and remind you to send me stuff you think would be good to cover for CK.

Enjoy the sunshine!

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(See the salad survey at the end of the entry)

For all of you Seabeck Pizza lovers living in Silverdale that don’t want to make the drive out to Seabeck (or Poulsbo, Port Orchard, Chico, Belfair, Gig Harbor) for a treat of the tasty pizza pies, you are in luck.

Nicholas Reynolds, who owns the above mentioned stores with his wife, recently put in an application to build a Seabeck Pizza off Myhre Road near its intersection with Ridgetop Boulevard. (It should be noted the original Seabeck Pizza on Hood Canal is still in operation in Seabeck and is not owned by Reynolds and his wife. They own the five other stores, plus the Silverdale one to come).

The store will be just over 1,600-square feet and will be attached to office retail space that will be for rent. They will be constructing the building from scratch. It will be located near the recently built Highland Business Park, but on the same side of the road as the apartments.

Reynolds said they made the choice to expand because that’s the stage they are in in their business/franchise development, and Silverdale is the next place they want to go. He added in six months or so he hopes to be able to offer individual franchise opportunities for people wanting to get into the locally owned pizza business.

He guesses they’ll have the Silverdale restaurant up and running by next year…assuming no hitches arise in the permitting/building process. For more information on Silverdale Pizza, including menus and phone numbers for the various stores, visit their web site.

Reynolds is thinking about installing a salad bar in their new Silverdale location and I told him I’d put a call out to readers, asking for their feedback on the suggestion. So, if you’re reading this, and feel like answering, write me a comment and let me know:

Yes, I want a salad bar as a part of the new restaurant, or

No, I don’t want a salad bar, the existing salads offered by Seabeck Pizza are just fine.

Thanks!

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Whaling Days officials were notified Monday that the annual Whale of a Crit bike race will not be held this year as a part of the regular weekend festivities.
Festival president Barry Iles said race organizers cited a number of “logistical problems with crowds and the cramped lay out” of Old Town Silverdale as reasons for canceling this year.
In an attempt accommodate the race, Whaling Days organizers tried moving it to the weekend before the three-day festival, but that caused more problems for race officials. Ultimately the group said the Silverdale race did not fit with their regional race schedule, Iles said.
“We, along with the race officials regret any inconvenience this may have caused,” Iles said in an e-mail Wednesday.
The Whale of a Crit bike race was introduced to Whaling Days in 2006 in an attempt to expand the festival’s offerings by attracting competitive bike riders. A criterion is a multilap race emphasizing speed, bike-handling skills and biking strategy over a one-mile course.

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At an early age children are taught about fire safety and what to do in case their home catches on fire. But, as adults, we tend to focus on other areas of our lives that we think deserve more attention. Sometimes we need to be reminded of what was important when were younger — fire safety, mapping an escape route, etc. — to make sure we are safe in our older years.

A common phrase said by fire officials is: “smoke detectors save lives.” In an effort to potentially save more CK residents from losing their lives to fires, firefighters from Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue have gone through their fire district, offering to install smoke detectors at no charge to residents.

Read on for the release issued by CKFR, and contact information for how you can get detectors installed in your home:

Firefighters in Central Kitsap have been hard at work installing smoke alarms in local homes. During the months of May and June, Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue installed more than 300, 10-year lithium battery smoke alarms to homes in mobile home parks. In an effort to be sure residents are alerted of a potential structure fire at the on-set, smoke alarms were installed in every room in which someone sleeps and in common corridors.

During the first half of 2007, the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office reported 21 people died in house fires statewide.

“We don’t want people in Kitsap County to add to that count and we’re doing what we can to spread the word about the importance of having working smoke alarms in every sleeping room, knowing two-ways out of every room, and having one predetermined meeting place outside where the entire family meets,” CKFR spokeswoman Theresa MacLennan said in a press release issued by CKFR.

Although the smoke alarm installation blitz of 300 initial alarms is over, Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue continues its efforts to ensure all homes in our community have working smoke alarms.

“As we’re out and about in the community, we share with people that smoke alarms wear out, just like coffee makers and curling irons. It’s essential that smoke alarms be tested regularly and that they are replaced every ten years,” reminds MacLennan.

Residents who still need smoke alarms and who are interested in having the fire department install them may call Theresa MacLennan at (360) 447-3603 for details.

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I wrote a story last week on the progress being made on two students’ vision for the Anderson Hill overpass. The pair, Victoria Cartwright and Laura Fedorko, would like to paint the overpass to help make the entrance into Silverdale aesthetically pleasing.

But, because the overpass is steep and because there is little space to do the work, there have been concerns for the safety of those involved in the beautification effort.

This week the Navy is expected to have some of its people cleaning up the brush and debris along the side of the overpass, to prepare it for pressure washing, scheduled for this weekend. The Navy will be on the overpass Thursday, July 10.

The Navy has been working with the students in charge of this project for a long time, in an effort to help them get it done. The Navy owns the overpass, and has been eager to cooperate since the get-go (contrary to an earlier report I made, stating they were a part of the road block the women faced when trying to get this done.) The main hitch for the Navy has been trying to figure out a way to get the overpass prepped for the pressure washing and painting in a way that doesn’t endanger anyone’s lives.

Unlike the pressure washing, Anderson Hill Road will NOT be closed during the time the Naval group will be clearing brush. Anyone driving through the overpass, please take this into consideration and slow down. While they be as safe as they possibly can, it’s still a little scary that they’ll be so near the road, on a steep slope, doing manual labor without the road being closed.

On Saturday, July 12, Anderson Hill Road will be closed from 6 am to 1 pm. That will be for the pressure washing of the cement. The purpose of that will be to clear off the dirt and any loose graffiti/paint to prep the cement for its eventual painting.

Team Innovative Services and J R Home Services have volunteered their staff and equipment for this project at no cost. In a conversation with Team Innovative owner Ken Perry, he talked about the importance of giving back to the community through these types of service projects. When he met with Victoria, Laura and Tex Lewis (local volunteer with the Clear Creek Trail) he said he knew he wanted to help them get this work done.

They still need donations, to help with the paint supplies, though. Parker Paint in Silverdale has donated primer the students need, and has offered to give the students a discount. Perry, Victoria and Laura have said they still need scaffolding to help with the painting and spray washing of the project.

If anyone is interested in either donating time, money or equipment, contact the creative masterminds at: climbervic@wavecable.com or lauraafedorko@wavecable.com. (also, if you’re an artist and feel like offering your take/services to the young ladies to help with this project, send them an email).