Peninsular Thinking

Brynn writes:

In case you missed it, we’ve got a North Kitsap Little League state championship team in our midst. I received an email today from one of the player’s mother letting me know that the Girls Big League Softball Team (an 18U team) beat out District 4 and 6 for the Big League win, which happened over the weekend in Vancouver, Wash.

According to the mother, the players have been together since they were about 6 years old. They even have the same coach from their beginning years as aspiring softball players. If you think about it, with all the activities and interests that pull our teenagers every direction these days, it’s pretty impressive that these young women, for the most part, have stayed together as a team for so long. That’s commitment not only to the sport, but also to each other.

With their recent win under their belts, the team hasn’t done too much celebrating. That’s because they’re scheduled to depart Monday for the regional championship in Palmdale, Calif. But before they go they’re hoping to raise some money to help cover some of the expenses incurred on their trip.

They’ve planned a fundraiser at Central Market for the weekend. They’ll be selling ice cream by donations only to help defray some of the costs of the trip (i.e. airfare, hotels, meals, etc.)

So if you’re at Central Market between 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday or Sunday and you see the team selling ice cream, tell them congrats, good luck and consider buying a cone if you’ve got a couple bucks to spare.

Congratulations ladies.

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Just confirmed that the following band will be performing at Poulsbo’s Viking Fest this year.

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A fan exits Firehouse as the clock runs out on the Seahawks' season. - Kitsap Sun photo by Steve Zugschwerdt

Firehouse Theater has been up and going for about 18 months. They’ve got two theaters, sized small and smaller, with comfortable seats and no way to have your view blocked.

When the Orchard Theater closed in Port Orchard I was genuinely saddened by it, but admitted I was part of the problem. I never attended a single showing there, despite all the times I really wanted to go. The Lynnwood on Bainbridge Island shows some of the same shows — arthouse and documentaries — so the options are still available within the county.

Firehouse could go the same route, as in showing more select films, assuming owner Craig Smith can afford to keep the place open for a while. He does have plans to get rid of the video store and get a liquor license, so patrons can sip beer or wine before or after a showing.

The theaters themselves have a great feel to them, but times are tough and entertainment dollars are fewer than they were a few years ago. On some weeknights there might only be two or three people for a single showing of the movies he shows, which is currently “Black Swan” and “The Green Hornet.”

“The King’s Speech” is coming.

And by the way, the screen quality was amazing, especially considering how far that picture had to be projected. You ever want to book a place to watch a television show in a big picture, I recommend Firehouse. We should have had a party there for the last showing of “Lost.”

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Brynn Grimley writes:

Back in April I wrote about the restaurant “comings and goings” in Poulsbo. At the time I talked with Jeff Holcomb, who spent five years as the head brewer at Silverdale’s Heads Up Brewery before it closed in February 2008.

He is now working with two partners — Jordan Rodgers and Aaron Callio — to open Valholl Brewing off Front Street just south of its intersection with Bond Road. He called it a “nano-brewery” saying initially they plan to produce only a half-barrel at a time and grow from there based on need. Holcomb wants to bring “very eccentric, extreme beer” to the area. That includes an imperial amber rye, a big Belgium strong ale and a licorice IPA, he said.

When we chatted he said they hoped to have the place open by the end of June. Well, if you’ve looked at the calendar recently you know today is June 30. (Where did June go?!?) I received a Google alert about the brewery that was on the Washington Beer Blog. It has an update from Holcomb.

Sounds like things are still being finalized, and the open date has been pushed to August. To see the full post visit the blog.

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Brynn Grimley writes:

I received a news release from the city of Poulsbo about work that will happen Thursday and Friday this week on the stage at Raab Park. Here’s the details in case you’re out there this week wondering what in the heck they’re doing.

The Poulsbo Home Depot and Windermere Real Estate-Poulsbo office, have teamed with the city of Poulsbo to make improvements to the music stage at Raab Park. The improvements will be done in time for upcoming special events, including the annual Americana Music Festival on Sept. 11.

Work starts Thursday at 9 a.m. with employees from The Home Depot and Windermere working to replace the stage floor. They’re expecting to be done around 1 p.m.

On Friday the Windermere folks will be back out at 9 a.m. to do repair work and paint the structure. They expect to be done around 2 p.m.

Background: Windermere Real Estate sets aside one day of community service each year for their employees. They encourage the employees to take a project that might otherwise not get done, and make it happen. This year’s selected project was improving the music stage at Raab Park, Poulsbo’s largest and most active park in the city.

Also this year, The Home Depot agreed to be a part of the project by providing associates to volunteer on the project as well as a $4,000 grant which will go toward the materials needed to complete the project.

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Brynn Grimley writes:

Last year I wrote about Patrick J. Momany of Kingston who calls himself the “Boucanier” of TaTu BBQ — a barbecue hut he has set up along Highway 104 leading into Kingston.

Momany walked 60 miles last September, leaving Poulsbo on Sept. 11 with his Fort Lewis as his final destination. The purpose of his walk was to raise awareness (and money) to support wounded troops overseas. Momany has made four trips to the Army’s Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany over the past two years. While there he cooks the troops his famous barbecue, bringing a taste of home to wounded troops while they recover.

Well according to a press release Momany sent me earlier this month, he’s walking again. The release states Momany was leaving Poulsbo May 27 with a final destination set for the World War II Memorial in Olympia. His plan was to arrive in time for the American Legion ceremony slated for Monday, May 31.

That’s a total of 75 miles.

Here’s more of what the release said:

All funds raised, if any, will go directly to feeding these troops, both walking or in bed confinement. The BBQ will be held July 4th at the USO Warrior Center, which is dedicated to wounded troops, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany. LRMC is the largest military hospital outside of the US. Almost all wounded troops from Afghanistan and Iraq go through this hospital.

This is the third year in which Mr. Momany has been supporting our wounded overseas and the particular experience which he brings to these outstanding young fighting Americans is a “taste of home” and an opportunity to relax and begin to deal with their injuries more effectively.

View pictures and videos of all Barbecues at www.bbq4wounded.org. A map route is available to view at: http://www.mapmywalk.com/walk/united-states/wa/poulsbo/775126818573414155

So this Memorial Day as you remember those who have served our country, either in the past or those currently serving, if you feel like supporting Momany’s efforts overseas visit his website where you can donate to his cause. Everything he does, he pays for through donations or out of pocket.

To read the story I wrote about Momany’s walk and his efforts last September, click here.

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