Jon Fehlman, the BIPD’s new deputy chief, was treated to a not-so-warm welcome on the online comments section of my story about his hiring.
Some comments questioned the need for his position. Others were critical of the BIPD for not hiring from within the department. One raised the issue of his California-ness.
Looks like they’ve got the internet down in Santa Rosa, and that Fehlman surfs it.
He posted a response today. Read it below.
Jon Strauss, former president of Harvey Mudd College in California, has been named president of Bainbridge Graduate Institute.
He takes the reins from Gifford Pinchot, founder and president of the six-year-old institute, which offers master’s degrees in sustainable business. Its campus is at IslandWood, the environmental-learning center on south Bainbridge Island.
Currently, 157 students are working on their master’s in sustainable business. Another 43 are working on certifications.
The Bainbridge Island Police Department has named a California cop with emergency management and neighborhood-oriented policing experience as its new deputy chief.
Lt. Jon Fehlman, a lieutenant in the Santa Rosa Police Department’s investigations bureau, will replace retiring Bainbridge Deputy Chief Mark Duncan on Dec. 1, the city announced on Thursday.
The 23-year law enforcement veteran bested about 45 other candidates from across the country, as well as Australia and Haiti.
“All the possible candidates had the technical requirements, but after that it’s about finding the right fit for our community,” said Bainbridge Chief Matt Haney. “(Fehlman) has the experience we need at this time on Bainbridge.”
Taking a break on their business trip to sip coffee along Winslow Way, Ellissa Wieneke and Angie Glasser eyed the sculpture a few feet away.
“It’s fun,” said Glasser, nodding at the mosaic sphere tucking in the landscape near their table. “Public art like this adds some flavor and gives us an interpretation of who the people are here.”
On the island for a just a few hours to help with a local theater production, the Seattle-area costumers came quickly to the conclusion that Bainbridge likes to share art in a public fashion.
“Just walking around, you can tell this is an art town,” Wieneke said.
And there’s much more public art on the way.
The city early this year increased the public art program’s share of capital projects funding from 1 to 2 percent, increasing the annual average of $24,000 to about $66,000.
Now arts advocates are working on a six-year plan to direct the types, locations and styles of the new works.
The Bainbridge Island Arts & Humanities Council will hold a meeting on Sunday afternoon to discuss public arts planning and gather input from residents.
“We’d love to hear from as many voices as possible, and put those voices into public art,” said Janice Shaw, who oversees the city public arts program.
