Seeking Silverdale and Central Kitsap

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

I awoke this morning to the sound of neighborhood kids playing in my lawn sprinklers.

My sprinkler system starts to cycle through the zones of my lawn at about 4:30 in the morning and completes the cycle around 7 a.m. So it was a little unusually to hear the sound of play so early in the morning.

I remember very clearly that playing in the yard while the sprinkler was on was a part of cooling off in the hot summer days of my youth, but it wasn’t so hot this morning (blessedly breaking the hot spell we’ve just survived); in fact, it was sort of cool. I was surprised that someone would be playing in the sprinklers given that reality.

So I got out of bed, went to the back window, and took a look.

Out back, I saw three young raccoons darting out from my photinia hedge, putting their front paws in the spray of water from the closest sprinkler head, then scampering back to the cover of the hedge. They were obviously fascinated with the water shooting out. They didn’t attack the sprinkler itself, but kept jumping toward the spray of water. This went on a few minutes until their mom ambled up through my back yard and got them moving again toward the green belt next to my lot.

It was the second time in a week that I’ve seen this group — one adult and four juvenile raccoons — foraging in my back yard and slowly moving through coming from the north and moving south into the green belt.

It would have been a great YouTube video had I been able to shoot one.

— Jeff

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Reader Tim Katona commented on an earlier post about the fact that there are contests in all three Central Kitsap School Board races this election for the first time in years.

But Tim was concerned that he couldn’t find information about the candidates who are running. “Yes this is great to have candidates; however, I can not find what their positions are on the web or in print. As my wife says ‘another Eni-mini-mini-Mo election.’ My hope would have been for some info about what each thinks about their potential for doing a good job.”

I posted a response to Tim’s comment suggesting some sources of information about the candidates, but I wanted to also do it as a blog entry since there may be many other CK residents who want to know how to find out more about our candidates.

The school district is divided up into five voting areas. Board members representing three of the areas will be elected this year. But only one contest will appear on the primary ballot that you should have received by now in the mail. That’s the race for the 5th District Seat. There are three candidates for that position (incumbent Eric Greene, Richard Romero and Jim Zimny), and only the two who receive the most votes in the primary will go on to the November election. There are only two candidates competing in each of the other two races.

The Kitsap Sun published a storiy about the District 5 race. You can see it here. The Sun also published a story about the two candidates who filed for the race for District 2 in a special filing period after the previous candidates had to drop out.

I’ll admit that neither of these stories looks at the differences among the candidates in great detail. They give only a cursory profile of the candidates, but it’s better than choosing by coin flip while looking at the ballot on your dining room table.

Another source of information about the candidates is the Kitsap County online voters guide. While the county did not print a voters guide this year, it did create a guide on its web site. You can access the guide to see information about the candidates that will be on your ballot. For the primary, you will see information only about the three candidates for the District 5 race, and only if your voter registration places you in an area where you are allowed to vote on that race. You have to submit your first and last name, as listed on your voter registration, and your birthdate, to access the online information about the races that are on your ballot. All three submitted written statements for the county voters guide, and Romero also took advantage of the county’s offer to post a video as well.

It isn’t easy to find out about candidates for these kinds of offices. They seldom receive as much attention as candidates for state legislature, county commissioner or mayor receive in the local newspapers. I applaud Tim for making the effort to learn more, and I hope this helps him and anyone else who would like to be an informed voter this year.

— Jeff

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

The truth has been sweated out from us, like a confession from extraordinary interrogation.

Those of us who came to Central Kitsap from other areas of the country didn’t come here for a job, or because we love the natural beauty of the area, or because we like to hunt and fish, or because of the nearness of a very attractive city, or because of the nearness of a great wilderness national park.

No, we came here to escape the heat we used to experience in other parts of the county. At least that’s what I’ve learned in the past few days when the heat is all anyone wants to talk about.

I can’t tell you how many converstions I’ve had since Monday that started with the phrase, “I used to live in …., and I can tell you that I moved here to escape the hot weather we used to have in ….”

In my case, it was central Illinois, where summer temperatures would park in the low 90s for days at a time and where the accompanying humidity would hover in the 70 percent range. I remember trying to go to sleep at night and feeling like I was drenched in sweat as I lay there, unmoving, in my bed. I came to Kitsap for a lot of reasons, but one reason we wanted to look this way was the mild weather.

And I’ve recently heard stories from people who came here from all over … Phoenix, Texas, upstate New York, other Midwestern states … stating basically the same thing.

It seems incredible that I had to message my family yesterday saying that I was looking forward to a trip to Florida next month because I would be going to cooler climes.

For the record, my home weather station recorded a high temperature of 107.7 yesterday … and yes, the temperature sensor is in the shade.

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Silverdale”s annual community festival, Whaling Days, kicked off last night with a fireworks show and continued today with the parade, Whale of a Run and street fair in Old Town.

I was there about noon today, before the parade ended, and there were already pretty good crowds at the street fair (even a few people already in the beer garden).

For a full schedule of events, check out the festival web site, and take some time to enjoy our community’s summer festival.

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Condolences to Central Kitsap Commissioner Josh Brown, who lost his sister in a senseless shooting in California.

The story in the Kitsap Sun indicates that 26-year-old Tersha Brown, a 2001 Central Kitsap High School graduate, was killed Monday in Sacramento. Police there say her 31-year-old boyfriend shot Brown in their apartment after an argument.

Brown was a softball player at CKHS who later played for college teams at the University of New Mexico and Sonoma State University.

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

I would guess my house in the Ridgetop neighborhood is pretty typical of most of the houses that could be considered to be in Silverdale. I’m sure there are some Silverdale houses with significant land around them, but most were developed as part of subdivisions that feature lot sizes barely larger than twice the footprint of the house that sits on them.

That’s why I am so supportive of the news that there is to be an effort to create a community P-Patch garden on county park land where the old Markwick farm used to be. Most houses in the Silverdale area simply don’t have a large enough spot for a vegetable garden, it the owner would like to plant one.

I’ve got my garden in containers now, with lettuce on the deck, a couple of large pots with tomato plants, and some smaller pots with carrots that are struggling to grow. I’d love to be able to plant a larger garden, but the area of my yard with good southern exposure is pretty limited.

I’ve thought in the past about renting a garden plot at the Poulsbo P-Patch at Raab Park, or at the Bremerton P-Patch at Blueberry Park. Both have been popular, and both are a little far from my house to make it easy to tend the garden. And I know from experience that if you don’t tend the garden, it will be weed infested and unsuccessful.

The Markwick property is a great location for a P-Patch, close to where people live and to the center of Silverdale. There is a significant expanse of level land on the property behind the house, and it looks like pretty good soil there, too. I imagine a P-Patch could be created there without a lot of problems.

According to the news brief in the Silverdale Life publication of the Kitsap Sun, the Kiwanis Club of Central Kitsap and Kitsap County are partnering to push the project. They are seeking volunteers to help with planning and preparing the patch and creating rules for the people who will rent the plots. This isn’t rocket science. The Kitsap Master Gardeners program has created a process to govern the P-Patches at Raab Park and in Bremerton, so it shouldn’t be too hard to come up with quality governance of the Silverdale garden.

If you’re interested in being involved, contact Bruce Van Woudenberg, (360) 697-1026.

— Jeff

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

We’re once again seeking candidates for the school board post now held by Carl Johnson. Johnson reluctantly allowed himself to be named to the school board two years ago, after intending to retire, when no other candidates stepped forward.

This year, two candidates stepped forward. But one withdrew upon seeing the other person in the race. And now the remaining candidate, Bill Bailey, has withdrawn after discovering he lived just a few houses outside the geographic district that seat represents. That’s a sad outcome, because I served with Bill Bailey on the Kitsap Sun’s editorial board, and though we didn’t always agree on issues, I found him to be extremely dedicated to improving the school system and a very honest man.

Now, we’re left with a huge hole to fill once again. I hope that Herb Messenger, who originally withdrew after seeing the Bailey was also in the race, will reconsider and put his name back in as a school board candidate. And I also hope that someone else will step forward so there is a real contest for Johnson’s board seat.

— Jeff

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

Warning: constant() [function.constant]: Couldn't find constant TT_TH8US_LEN in /home/psblogs/public_html/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this.php on line 1821

The news today that Grant Griffin is resigning as the director of the Kitsap Visitors and Convention bureau raises an interesting question, one I’d like to hear your opinions about.

The Visitors and Convention Bureau is established to market Kitsap as a tourist destination. For the most part, aside from membership dues, It uses hotel/motel tax money to promote Kitsap County.

Hotel/motel taxes are paid by people who stay overnight in the county in a commercial accommodation. There would be three main groups of people who pay hotel/motel taxes. Visitors to Kitsap doing business here, including with the Navy; relatives of local residents who are visiting family; or visitors who live outside the area who are here for a while or passing through on their way to other places. Occasionally a Kitsap resident will stay in a Kitsap hotel or B&B for a get away weekend, but I’d have to guess that’s a rare hotel stay, not the typical one.

The reason for Griffin’s departure is a split between him and the board of the VCB over how to focus the promotional campaign that VCB is responsible for. Griffin believes the target should be the 4-5 million people who live in the I-5 corridor and who may be attracted to be spending vacation time closer to home during this time of economic downturn. The board thinks VCB should be promoting Kitsap to Kitsap, trying to convince Kitsap residents to spend their vacation dollars here.

I’ll admit I haven’t studied this issue, and I’d like to hear your opinions. But my question is this. Why would an organization that is trying to generate bodies in hotel beds decide to market an area to residents who already live there? The whole concept of tourism as an economic driver is to bring new money into the community. A focus on attracting Kitsapers to visit Kitsap doesn’t seem to make sense in that context. Money spent by a daily visitor is much less than money spent by an overnight visitor. And money spent by a Kitsap resident on tourism in Kitsap is money recycling in our community, not new money coming in.

If VCB convinces Kitsap residents to stay home to vacation, they sure won’t be renting hotel or motel rooms, and they won’t be paying hotel/motel tax.

I don’t think it makes any sense for our VCB to spend money to sell Kitsap as a national or international tourist destination. But it seems to me that the regional focus on I-5 corridor residents makes a lot more sense than focusing on getting Kitsap residents to stay here on their days off. Any thoughts?

— Jeff