Category Archives: Bikes

Trike theft leaves Bremerton man without his ride

It’s not often you hear about the theft of a three-wheeled bike. But on Monday, such a trike was taken in front of the Fred Meyer in East Bremerton — one belonging to a popular store employee who depends on it for getting to and from work.

For now, Pablo Lozano will have to take the bus to work.

“Disappointing,” is how he described the theft.

Others — and he has quite the following at the Fred Meyer and beyond — describe the theft more harshly, and are hoping to see justice in this case.

He was working his shift Monday when another employee informed him someone might be “messing” with his trike. He went out front to find it was gone.

This wasn’t just any trike. Lozano had it customized with a speaker, motor and lights. He suffered a stroke and meningitis when he was just five years old, so the bike’s brakes work through his left hand. He didn’t lock it up Monday — he rarely does, noting a community of good people who’ve never touched it since he started working there — and someone wandered off with it.

Since the theft, many tips have rolled in about its whereabouts. It may have been painted and taken to Port Orchard. In any event, if you have any information about the bike’s whereabouts, call 911. The county sheriffs’ case number is K16-004140.

Several efforts to get Lozano a new trike are underway. I’m keeping an eye on them, and will keep you posted if anyone is able come to Lozano’s aid.

UPDATE #1: Seattle E-Bike is outfitting Pablo with a new bike and are delivering it to him soon, Lozano told me. Here’s the story of how the delivery happened.

UPDATE #2: Strangely, another trike was stolen from a Bremerton home this week in the North Wycoff area (pictured). But it was found a few days later.

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Beat blast: 5 things to know in Bremerton this week

josh farley

Stories featured this week:

The whales came to Bremerton Sunday
A bookstore may be in store for downtown Bremerton
Joe Kennedy may sue the district if he can’t pray after games
Two bank robberies, one day
10-year-old gets new bike after hers was stolen

Hope you enjoy our inaugural edition. Please write me with questions or concerns.

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For 10-year-old, bike theft has happy ending

josh farley

Alexandra Funari, 10. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN

I’m not really sure how someone who steals a child’s bike can sleep at night. But that’s exactly what happened to Alexandra Funari, a 10-year-old student at View Ridge Elementary School. Last Thursday, her mother, Bonnie Flacco, came home to find someone had ripped off Alexandra’s bicycle from right beside their home off East 31st Street.

“It made me cry,” Alexandra said. “I really liked my bike.”

Flacco said that several kids’ bikes have gone missing in the neighborhood recently, something she too finds unconscionable.

“It’s sad that someone would go around the neighborhood and steal children’s toys,” she said.

Bike theft is all too common in Kitsap County and across the country. In Bremerton alone, 69 bikes have been reported stolen between Jan. 1, 2013 and today. Bremerton Police Chief Steve Strachan said the best thing you can do, other than make sure the bike is locked up, is get the serial number off of it for safe keeping and take a picture. And, if it is stolen, be sure to report it to police.

“We recover a bicycles fairly frequently,” Strachan said. “We have a really hard time getting them back to people if they don’t report it.”

Alexandra’s bike, unfortunately, remains missing. But there is a silver lining.

Bremerton resident Joanne Jogerst saw a post from Flacco on a Facebook page. She knew a man named Thom Kalmbach, a Renton resident who grew up in Bremerton — and that he might have a bike. Kalmbach contacted me and said his 13-year-old daughter had indeed outgrown her bike and he was willing to part ways with it. I arranged a meeting at Evergreen-Rotary Park this afternoon for the parties to meet.

Alexandra had no idea.

“I hear someone borrowed your bike,” Kalmbach said as he approached. “And they didn’t give it back.”

“Stole it,” Alexandra replied.

Then, Kalmbach wheeled over a white and purple bike with thick mountain bike tires. Alexandra’s eyes lit up.

She quickly got on the saddle and began riding it around the Evergreen-Rotary Park boat launch parking lot.

“I love it,” she said.

Flacco said they’ll make sure to get a lock to deter thieves in the future.

Alexandra Funari, 10, celebrates after she rode her new bike at Evergreen-Rotary Park in Bremerton on Wednesday. To her right is her mom, Bonnie Flacco. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN

Alexandra with her new bike. In the center is Tom Kalmbach of Renton, who gave her the bike, and Joanne Jogerst who contacted Tom. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN

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A bike ride around Bremerton, in pictures

josh farley

I love a good bike ride around Bremerton, a dynamic city where change is constant. Recently, I trekked all the way to the Oyster Bay Chevron station — you remember the story — from downtown. I made sure to fill my trip with lots of interesting stops. Here’s my photographic journey.

After the hard climb past Callow Avenue, you come to this beautiful house flying the colors. I’ve always found the home very charming.

Nearby is Forest Ridge Park, with what I am presuming to be an old fire station. Anyone know its history?

My original destination: this mural on the back of the Chevron Station, where I met young artist Lue Brentwood. He painted this lovely scene after vandalizing the wall. I plan to check back soon to find out what will happen to the charges he faces.

Just up Kitsap Way, the old Dunes Motel is changing hands. Motel 6 will take it over soon.

I stopped by Bremerton City Nursery, on Adele Avenue, to check out their new moss-lined “potstickers.” These innovative pots were invented by the nursery. But more on that in a later feature.

Have you been to Spiro’s on Kitsap Way yet? I’ve heard nothing but good things so far.

The famous Callow Avenue mural, at Pied Piper’s Emporium. I’d love to know more about how it got there and the artist.

I was sad to see the Pour House pub on Naval Avenue closed at the end of August. Sorry that I didn’t get a chance to write a story about the place, too.

Yes, the Bremerton Evergreen-Rotary Park Accessible Playground has been getting (much deserved) ink in the Kitsap Sun of late. But have you seen the other side of the park? The grass has grown in nicely at the 9/11 Memorial, over the top of the old Chevron site. Next, the road you see here will be removed and the park will ultimately be connected together — an sizeable expansion of Bremerton’s busiest park.

Wrapped up my trek on the east side, where a number of roads in Manette have been chip sealed, using funds from the car tab increase.

Are you a bike rider? Even a walker? Ever want to go for a ride or a walk around town? Drop me a note, I’d love to join you sometime.

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New bike rack goes up at Hi-Lo’s 15th Street Cafe

josh farley

Tom Baker installs a new bike rack Friday.

Tom Baker was looking for a way to “do his part.” The Bremerton man, who works in the city’s public works department, has become an avid cyclist. After completing the Tour de Kitsap and Seattle to Portland bike rides, he felt he had to chip into the local cycle community.

He joined West Sound Cycling Club, became its secretary, and now is helping to install 13 new bike racks around Bremerton and Kitsap County. On Friday morning, he bolted a new rack near Hi-Lo’s 15th Street Cafe in Bremerton.

The racks are important, he says, to give bicyclists confidence at their destinations.

“You want to feel your bike is secure,” he said.

As the city of Bremerton constructs more bike lanes in the city, including as part of its Lower Wheaton Way and Washington Avenue projects, more racks will be needed to accommodate the additional two-wheeled riders.

“Racks encourage you to ride your bicycle,” he said. “You’re more likely to ride if you have a place to park it.”

After installing a few outside Silverdale Cyclery, the group now has nine racks left to put in, in spots anywhere from Gig Harbor to Hansville. If you have questions about the new racks, email Baker at tombaker070@gmail.com.

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