Peninsular Thinking

Scott Robinson looks incredible in this big … coat.

Scott Robinson and girlfriend, Rachel Harmon, look incredible in the same big … coat.

It’s the annual music event at The Gorge and at that price it’s no wonder there is a dress code. Scott Robinson and Rachel Harmon, pictured in the big furry coat, plan to look stellar, and the big furry coat is proof.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis is part of the line-up for Sasquatch!, and this $15 beauty from the Goodwill in Silverdale fits the definition of a “come up.” But I have a hunch Robinson would have worn this thrift-shop beauty no matter who was performing.

I stopped the Bainbridge Island couple outside Goodwill in Silverdale, because I found the coat to be absolutely cowbell. I was jealous. This is just the kind of clothing I want to wear in public to embarrass my wife.

Don’t come at these guys with paint, either. The coat is a fake, all acrylic. “No animals were harmed in dressing for Sasquatch!” said Robinson. Besides, over four days of camping and watching musicians, that coat will likely be used as a sleeping bag, napkin and maybe even a vomit target. And if it’s raining, it could double as a sled. Something tells me that coat won’t be making the trip home.

No worries, though. If you want one, Robinson said there was another one inside the store. I’m sure it’s not my size. I’m working on that, though, so you better hurry.

Share on Facebook

We had a gorgeous day today, didn’t we! And it looks like the rest of the week will be even better, until the weekend.

Since we would be silly to take gorgeous days for granted, I thought I’d show evidence here of one that we had recently so that it’s on our permanent record.

When I went to cover the people who ran and walked to show resolve a day after the Boston Marathon bombings, I also took some footage that didn’t make it onto the video. It remained on the cutting room floor, if you will. (You know what kind of people say “if you will?” The same people who still use “cutting room floor.”)

So I put together a 25-second video for you to enjoy when the skies outside are gray. This Saturday, for example.

Share on Facebook

Meili Cady

Cady was a homecoming princess, ASB co-president and honors student. She said she was voted by her classmates “Most likely to be famous.” Seems they got that one right.

She is under house arrest now and did real jail time for her part in a drug trafficking operation.

It isn’t as bad as all that. Start with the Rolling Stone piece and it seems clear that Cady’s path to prison came from trusting a committed manipulator, reportedly an heiress within the Samsung family, for far too long, caring for her friend even they were both arrested in Columbus, Ohio. Seriously, this is a compelling story about a woman, Lisette Lee, who had an amazing ability to turn friends and acquaintances into puppets. Cady, who didn’t want to believe the worst about her friend in the face of all evidence, reflects now on the price she paid by trusting so much.

“It ends up being a fatal flaw to trust someone so blindly,” she said. “It ended up tainting me and hurting the people I love. It was really awful to be so wrong about something I thought was so sacred.”

She told me that Monday during a 90-minute conversation we had by phone.

She has remained in Los Angeles, living the aspiring actress life, which means she’s working as a waitress as she considers her future, all the while wearing an ankle monitor that lets law enforcement know where she is all the time.

Cady blogs about her day-to-day life in an engaging blog titled House Arrest Girl. She tells of the monotony of staying home all the time, of friends who visit and of a creepy neighbor who took too much delight in watching her as she chatted with a friend outside. If you go far enough into the archives, you’ll find this description of her relationship with her ankle bracelet:

“They say that the true nature of a relationship cannot be holistically assessed until it has survived a full year of seasons. I’ve been with my ankle bracelet now for more than seven months. He came to live with me the day we met. Fast, I know, but we were connected. We spent Christmas together, and we were skin-close at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. He even comes into my work and insists on grocery shopping with me every week (awww). We don’t go out much. We are homebodies– but we do sleep together every night, even when I’m not happy with him before we get into bed. We are still inseparable, even at this very moment. But, I’ve got to be honest with you… I cannot wait to leave this bastard and never see him again come November.”

At some point later this year I hope to tell her story in greater detail, but I highly recommend you begin your understanding by reading the Rolling Stone piece. In the meantime I can tell you that she has no plans to let this whole affair ruin her life. She does wonder how the ordeal will affect her ability to be in a committed, romantic relationship the next time that opportunity arises. And she feels for how this might have affected her parents, who she calls her heroes. The blog has helped.

“Yes, this happened but this doesn’t define me,” Cady said. “I don’t want to be shamed by this circumstance. I want to grow from it.”

As of Monday she has 58 days left on house arrest.

Share on Facebook

October 29, 2011 was cold and rainy. The car in which Kattie Mendes was riding went out of control on Ridgetop Boulevard and spun off the road, slamming into a maple tree, splitting the tree.

First on the scene was off-duty firefighter Lt. Steve Murray, on his way home.

“I saw a car accident on the side of the road …”

Murray called 911 then checked Mendes and the young man who was driving. The two were lodged in the crumpled car and had to be extricated by Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue crews that followed shortly.

Mendes, then 26, was unconscious. EMTs began care to stabilize her for an airlift to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, which receives many traumatic injuries from Kitsap County.

In all 19 first responders (all from CKFR except Murray) aided the two victims, all but certainly saving their lives.

Francie Mendes, Kattie’s mom, wanted to show her gratitude, and her sister Cheri Searles quickly got on board. Searles is a member of the Kitsap Quilters Guild.

“I said cookies. She said, ‘No, we’re going to make quilts,’” Francie Mendes said of her older sister’s idea.

The two had made quilts for the Lakewood Police Department after four of its officers were gunned down in a Tacoma coffee shop in 2009.

Nineteen quilts seemed a daunting task, Francie said, but they took it one at a time. Each quilt was different. Each has a special message sewn into the corner.

“That’s all we did for six months was work on those quilts. We did nothing else,” Francie said.

Some of the material was donated.

On Tuesday, the sisters presented the quilts at a meeting of the CKFR board of commissioners in Silverdale.

“We are so thankful for all of you here and what you did on that night of October 29 that forever changed our lives,” Francie said.

Kattie is recovering slowly, her mother told the men and women who arrived on the scene. But her memory, speech and fine motor skills remain impaired. She has no memory of the accident, and her short-term memory is poor — though she can remember long-term information, like phone numbers from when her dad was in the Navy and they lived in different places every few years. Through hard work and therapy, Kattie is almost ready to go back to work with Verizon Wireless.

“We know you see so much bad and ugly, we just want to make you happy,” Francie said.

Not all the firefighter/EMTs were able to make it to the ceremony. But those who did got warm hugs from the two sisters as they accepted their gifts.

“Thank you from my niece,” Searles said, as she embraced Murray.

“Thank you so much,” she said to Firefighter Kara Putnam.

Putnam’s unit arrived after Mendes already had been transported from the scene. She helped give aid to the young man, who also is recovering from serious injuries.

“It’s pretty overwhelming,” Putnam said after the brief, informal ceremony. “It’s incredibly kind of them. When we first heard they were doing this … you get chills.”

Putnam said the quilt she chose would coordinate with her bedroom at home, but she has other plans.

“I’ll probably keep this at the station on my dorm bed,” she said.

“It was a labor of love. They really enjoyed what they did,” said Andy Mendes, Kattie’s father.

He was a firefighter on naval aircraft carriers, so he could relate to the daily demands on the group being honored.

“It’s nice to be able to meet these people and be able to show them how much we appreciate what they did,” Andy Mendes said.

Added Cheri’s husband Russ, “Too few tell them thank you.”

The quilting marathon was a bonding experience for the two sisters, both from Poulsbo.

“As sisters, we laughed, we cried,” Francie Mendes said. “Everything here has been prayed over, not just for the people who are receiving the quilts, but for their families.”

… and for everyone who comes under their care.

“We never argue,” said Francie, with a wink at her elder sister.

To which Cheri replied, “That’s because I’m always right.

…. In the photo below by Kitsap Sun photographer Meegan Reid, Francie Mendes hugs firefighter Lt. Steve Murray of North Kitsap Fire & Rescue. Francie’s sister Cheri Searles is in the background.

Share on Facebook

Brynn writes:

Wednesday night architect Steve Rice unveiled his vision for a new library in Silverdale.

At the request of the Kitsap Regional Library, Rice has been working for two years on a design for a new library. First he was tasked with creating concept for a library around 17,000 square feet (roughly the same size as the Sylvan Way library). That’s back when KRL asked voters to approve a levy increase that would in part help pay for the construction of new libraries in Silverdale and Kingston.

When that measure failed, the library board went back to the drawing board for how it could expand the current Silverdale facility, which has been a desire of the library system and the community since 1998. Ultimately the board agreed to enter into an agreement with the county that would include hiring a consultant to conduct a feasibility study. (See my story from Dec. 12 for more details on the agreement).

The purpose of the study will be to gauge how much the community is willing to contribute to a capital campaign to build a new library in Silverdale. It will also survey the constituency to determine whether people support building a new library, or if they’d rather see KRL move into a larger, existing space in Silverdale.

While I’ve reported it repeatedly, it seems some people still think to build this library KRL will be increasing taxes. KRL will not ask for a levy increase, or increase taxes to build a new Silverdale library. However much the community says it’s willing to donate to the cause will be what KRL uses to fund its expansion. (The model will be similar to the one used to build the Haselwood Family YMCA — $12 million in public donations was raised to help build the facility).

If the community determines it would prefer to see a new facility built, KRL board members have said they’d like to see the facility built on the Central Kitsap Community Campus, where the YMCA currently stands. The Y was the first phase of the campus. The second phase will be the addition of a new library (assuming that’s what the community wants) and potentially the addition of a performing arts center.

Previously there was talk that a new library would be located where the Silverdale Community Center now stands. The idea was the building would be built into the hill — the community center would be torn down to make room. But during Wednesday’s presentation, Rice offered a new location for the proposed building.

At 8,000 to 10,000 square feet, Rice envisions the new library to again be built into the hill, but this time located in the southwest southeast corner of the campus site, directly across the grassy area from the YMCA. Here’s a couple architectural drawings from his presentation.

The first depiction shows a side view of the library, facing southwest, featuring the main entrance to the library on street level to the left, the view of a proposed gallery space and the entrance from the grass area — or village commons — to the right. While the building is proposed to be one story, there is an upper floor space for a community meeting room with views over Silverdale Way toward Dyes Inlet.

The second depiction shows the view looking from the second floor of the YMCA above the front door looking down the village commons toward the library. The entrance to the library from the commons is visible, and so is the back of the library, which Rice proposed would offer a presentation space facing the commons.

As I reported in my story, Rice proposed making the village commons/grass area more appealing to the public by adding walkway features, rose gardens and an outdoor amphitheater space that would be attached to the library building.

One of the big questions about this location though is parking. The building would eliminate 24 parking spaces to fit into the campus design, and wouldn’t add any parking. It wasn’t financially feasible to add an underground parking garage, Rice said.

Already parking is often filled on the campus site because of the heavy use of the YMCA, and many people at Wednesday’s meeting questioned how the site could handle more use with library patrons. County Commissioner Josh Brown said eventually a parking garage would have to be added to the 12-acre site, which has been the intention all along. The question is, who will be responsible for building (and paying) for it?

If the library locates on the campus a study will be done to determine the library’s peak hours and the YMCA’s peak hours. Programs would then be planned around those peak times, to try and minimize the parking problems, Brown said.

Obviously parking will be a big issue on this site until more can be added, and that’s something KRL board members and Kitsap County officials will have to address if they proceed with building a new library on site.

Share on Facebook

Our condolences to the Gibbard family on the sad news that Olympic High School grad Ben Gibbard and his wife of two years, Zooey Deschanel, have separated.

Seriously, I’m kind of sad about this. I love the depth I see in Death Cab for Cutie music and I’ve always thought Deschanel was kind of cool. I’m not sure why any of us bother to get our hopes up for celebrity couples, but why not? They both seem likable.

I guess I won’t be seeing the two of them at my house. You can still come over, Ben.

Share on Facebook

Brynn writes:

Each year the Clear Creek Task Force holds an annual salmon adoption event to help raise money to pay for trail maintenance throughout the year.

A plain, wooden salmon is given to those who wish to “adopt” it, then they are asked to decorate the fish and return it for judging. The money spent on the adoption goes to the trail. If you’re thinking about adopting a salmon, the deadline to turn it in is Sept. 17.

Here’s the details from the Task Force:

Celebrate Clear Creek: Salmon Run Adoption Certificate

Salmon sponsors purchase artboard for $15, $25, or $25 for the “Catch-All” category. After decorating both sides of a salmon and naming it, the salmon art is donated back to Clear Creek for judging, awards and prizes. Vote for your favorite Salmon online at www.clearcreektrail.org.

Judges award first, second and other winners, award prizes and auction off Salmon Art at Celebrate Clear Creek on Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Clear Creek Interpretive Center located off off Levin Road and Bucklin Hill Road.

Salmon run proceeds will benefit development and maintenance of the Clear Creek Trail system. Salmon can be picked up at the following locations: Old Town Custom Framing, 3255 NW Lowell St, Silverdale WA 98383, 360 698-1507; Clear Creek Interpretive Center, for times visit www.clearcreektrail.org.

For more information: clearcreektrail@yahoo.com

All entries must be returned by September 17, 3 p.m. to be eligible for auction and prizes.

Share on Facebook

Looking for something to do tomorrow evening? Why not check out the first-ever night Beach Seine event, hosted by the Clear Creek Task Force.

Here’s the details:

What: Help pull a 100-foot fish net (seine) from shore and discover what and how many fish live in the waters at the northern most part of Dyes Inlet waiting to feed some salmon. Fish and other kinds of marine life from the Near Shore Habitat provide young salmon with their food and shelter for up to 2 years before they migrate out of Dyes Inlet. Paul Dorn, the Suquamish Tribes Salmon Recovery Coordinator, will work with us as we net, identify, measure, and record data from the beach seine. Our catch with data from other Kitsap Near Shore Habitats will help us understand more about this vital underwater habitat we rarely visit.

Where:  Old Mill Park, Silverdale
When:  Aug.16th, 5:45 p.m. ‘til 7:30 p.m.
Bring: Boots (hip or waders are best); gloves, a towel, rain gear, sunscreen.

Share on Facebook

On June 23 there appeared on a rival news site an editorial written, I assumed, by someone for whom I have a begrudgingly huge amount of respect. He might have once worked here at the Kitsap Sun, I’ll have to check. So many times when he (or she, because I’m doing this with the pretense of not naming him [or her]) would write something I would find myself insanely, (No, that’s not right.) profoundly, (Closer, but not quite there.) somewhat (That’s the one.) jealous that I didn’t write it myself. Over here, assuming this writer did work here, there was a byline attached. Over at the rival there was not on the particular piece I found to be so brilliant that it merited again my envy.

Example:

“First, be born rich. Not smart, that only leads to problems. And best is if you are rich with money you didn’t earn. In this case, someone else will pay your skyrocketing tuition bill so when you graduate with your anthropology or — heaven forbid — journalism degree and cross your fingers for a job flipping hamburgers, you will be able to spend your paycheck on $300 e-book gadgets to replace $5 paperbacks rather than fending off collection agents.”

At the end you discover the point of the sarcastic (i.e. the author doesn’t really believe people shouldn’t go to college.) treatise. I’ll let you discover it.

The column is especially pertinent today, because the writer in question was just today released from his employment at our rival. He made that paper better and trained some good writers over there, but his reward for a job well done was a heartfelt letter about the publication wanting to go in a new direction. Whatever direction that is not somewhere I want to go.

Good luck Andy.

Share on Facebook

Brynn writes:

It sounds like there’s some confusion about where the southernmost boundaries fall for the proposed city of Silverdale. Without a clear road running east to west, it’s a little hard to tell people whether their home falls in the proposed boundaries, or outside. So far I’ve just been saying the boundary is just south of Newberry Hill Road.

While most of Chico and all of Eldorado Hills have been cut from the proposed city, there is still a section of northern Chico that is included in the incorporation boundaries. Citizens United for Silverdale, the group proposing the incorporation, recently changed the boundaries from the county’s 2006 comprehensive plan update with its extended urban growth area boundaries, to the county’s 2005 urban growth area boundaries that didn’t include much of Chico.

The change was in direct response to public input last month at a Boundary Review Board meeting where a number of people in Chico and Eldorado Hills asked to be removed from the proposed boundaries.

Without a specific street, it’s hard to say what homes are on the line, and what homes are outside. If you know your home was not in the 2005 urban growth area for Silvedale, then you’re not in the proposed city boundaries. If you have no idea, I’d recommend emailing the incorporation proponents with your address to see where you fall: UniteSilverdale@gmail.com.

Here’s my best attempt at trying to explain who is still in and who is out. If you live in the Emery Ridge development, or between Emery Ridge and Newberry Hill, then your home falls in the proposed city limits. If you live near Holly Park Drive, you might be on the edge, so send an email to inquire. If you’re significantly south of Holly Park Drive, you’re not in the city limits.

Here’s the map the group is using, but it’s hard to tell exactly what homes fall in or out. Reminder the BRB will hear the incorporation attempt again at its meeting this Thursday, 7 p.m. at the Silverdale Beach Hotel, 3073 Bucklin Hill Road.

Share on Facebook