Above is the agenda for a special meeting of the Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue Board of Commissioners scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday.

An employee’s job may be on the line, according to the “discussion” item listed.

“It’s the legal description that has to be completed. That’s what’s taking so long,” Mary Earl, committee member said Wednesday.

The paperwork will be filed either Thursday or Monday, because the county is closed on Fridays, Earl said.

In the season of hand-wringing over the perfect gift, many opt to hedge their bets, avoid any awkwardness and simply buy that causal acquaintance a gift card. And in Washington, it’s illegal to set expiration dates on gift cards. Who says Olympia can’t make hard decisions? Of course, this is second best compared to simply handing over cold, hard cash. That’s why some opt for those debit card gift cards. It’s just money, in electronic form, which is pretty close to cash.

And so it was, my $50 debit MasterCard gift card, a present from one of my mom’s friends. I received it about a year ago, but I needed the money recently for groceries. I typed in the card number and security code. My computer screen refreshed to display that the card contains $40.

“Forty dollars? You need to call customer service and tell them they stole your money,” my mom said. I’m a good girl, I do what my mom says, so I called ready to make wild accusations to strangers. Then I noticed the fine print, which says after a year the bank will take $2 a month. And here came my hard lesson: Debit gift cards look like gift cards, and work like gift cards, but when it comes to the banks, debit gift cards don’t get the same protection. Just as my mom was telling me to write to the state attorney general on this outrage, I went online to look up the law. Washington’s gift card and gift certificate law states that “it is unlawful for any person or entity to issue, or to enforce against a bearer, a gift certificate that contains an expiration date.” Of course, just like any law, there are multiple sections and some exceptions. And of course, one of those exceptions makes it lawful for me to lose $10 from my MasterCard gift card. “Washington’s law doesn’t apply to bank-issued gift cards such as those issued by VISA or MasterCard, which are regulated under federal laws,” wrote Attorney General Rob McKenna on the office website. “Many gift cards sold by shopping mall management companies are issued by banks,” he added.

Even though the law has been properly followed in my incident, I still feel cheated by the bank. I had 20 percent of the value of the gift card disappear — a gift card that was already paid for by a friend. And all because of discreet wording on the packaging. I’m still waiting for a call from the company’s manager — it’s their policy to do callbacks if one wants to speak to upper management — for the time being they have given back $1. So, I really didn’t lose that much, about $9. I understand that I won’t get any more money returned — banks do what they want. But maybe giving a manager a piece of my mind about their sneaky practices will give them pause, or, at the least, make them earn the money they took from me.

Hot Topic in Silverdale will not be closing despite an announcement on upcoming store closures.
Hot Topic, Inc. announced in a press release Nov. 16 that due to poor sales, 40 to 50 Hot Topic stores will close by early 2011.
The Hot Topic location in Kitsap Mall has been confirmed to stay open, said Jim McGinty, chief financial officer. He was unable to comment Nov. 19 on the specific locations of the store closures. There are currently 19 Hot Topic stores in Washington state.

Please find below, in its entirety, the Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney’s report on the fatal shooting of Mathew Netter, 23, of Bremerton, by Poulsbo Police Officer Darrel Moore.

Read the story here.

August 26, 2010

Netter Shooting
July 23, 2010
Unincorporated Kitsap County
Prosecutor’s Analysis

Just before 10:25 p.m. on the night of July 23, 2010, Poulsbo Police Officer Darrel Moore initiated a traffic stop of a white Honda Accord driven by Matthew James Netter.  Although initially cooperative, within minutes Netter, without provocation, threatened Officer Moore with a pistol.  In response to the threat, Officer Moore deployed his service weapon, firing nine shots at Netter.  Netter was struck eight times and died of his wounds.  Officer Moore was absolutely justified in his use of deadly force.  We decline to prosecute.

I base this conclusion on the results of the investigation conducted by the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office.  The record created by that investigation is very complete and includes a video and audio recording of the entire transaction between Officer Moore and Netter.  The Poulsbo Police Department has equipped most of its patrol cars with video cameras.  The cameras are permanently mounted and are oriented to make a video-and-audio taped record of the action immediately in front of the patrol vehicle.  Officer Moore’s car had this equipment.  There is also an audio recording of all the radio traffic generated by this transaction.  While on patrol, all Kitsap County law enforcement officers are in constant radio contact with Kitsap County Cencom, the County’s emergency dispatch network.  Patrol officers maintain communication through radios in their patrol cars and radios carried on their persons.  Cencom records the time and content of all radio calls.

July 23, 2010 was a Friday.  Silverdale Whaling Days, a community celebration scheduled to last through the weekend, was just getting underway.  The Silverdale area is part of unincorporated Kitsap County.

Although an officer of the Poulsbo Police Department, Officer Moore was working in Silverdale as part of a Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUI) enforcement emphasis patrol.  From time to time, the local law enforcement agencies in Kitsap County and the Washington State Patrol will join together and focus DUI enforcement efforts on a particular geographic area of the County.  A DUI emphasis patrol is publicized beforehand to deter potential drunk drivers.  All participating officers are commissioned to exercise law enforcement authority throughout the County.

Moore was assigned to the Silverdale area as part of the emphasis patrol.  He was in full uniform and driving a clearly marked Poulsbo Police Department patrol car.  Navy Petty Officer Erik Nelson was also in the car as a civilian observer.  Civilian “ride-alongs” are a regular part of local law enforcement practice.

Just before 10:25 p.m. Officer Moore noted a vehicle eastbound on NW Bucklin Hill Road near its intersection with Mickleberry Road.  It was a white Honda Accord, Washington license number 876 WTW.  It had swerved suddenly in its lane of travel.  Given the time of day, the community celebration, and the heavy traffic, this swerve gave Officer Moore a reasonable suspicion that the driver might be under the influence of intoxicants.  Officer Moore engaged his emergency lights, signaling the Honda to stop.  He informed Cencom as he did so.

There was one person in the vehicle: the driver, Matthew Netter.  He responded immediately to the patrol car’s lights by pulling off to the side of Bucklin Hill Road.  Officer Moore exited his car and approached Netter’s Honda.  Netter remained in his vehicle.  Traffic on Bucklin Hill road was very heavy, so Officer Moore asked him to continue on less than a block and turn right on Mickleberry into the parking lot of Timberland Bank.  The bank was closed for the weekend, and that part of Mickleberry is not heavily traveled.  The Officer’s plan was to continue the contact in an area that would not interfere with the heavy Whaling Days traffic.

Netter complied, pulling into the empty parking lot and stopping.  Officer Moore positioned his vehicle behind Netter’s Honda.  Netter remained seated in his car, and Officer Moore approached the driver’s side.  The civilian rider followed and took up a position behind Officer Moore.

Standing by the Honda driver’s door, Officer Moore explained the reason for the stop and asked to see the documents necessary to lawfully operate a motor vehicle: driver’s license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance.  Netter produced a Washington driver’s license.  Netter told Officer Moore that the swerve noted by the officer was necessary to avoid a car entering his lane from a side street.  Officer Moore responded politely.

Approximately three minutes into the contact, the officer received a radio transmission from Cencom advising that Netter presented a possible safety risk.  The dispatchers at Cencom can immediately access the electronic law enforcement records associated with identifying information, like a vehicle license number.  When Officer Moore informed Cencom that he was stopping a car identified by Washington plate 876 WTW, the dispatcher automatically checked to see what, if any, criminal history was associated with the vehicle.   Netter had been the subject of a domestic violence allegation on March 6, 2010.  He had been driving the Honda at that time.  The Port Orchard Police Department had investigated that incident and included in their report information from witnesses alleging that Netter had access to weapons and had indicated a willingness to fight with law enforcement.1  This information was linked to the plate number.  When Cencom ran its check on July 23, that portion of the prior report came up and was relayed to Officer Moore for his safety.

Netter heard the transmission and denied the allegations.  Office Moore continued to respond politely, assuring Netter his only interest was that they both be safe.  He told Netter that to ensure their safety, he intended to check Netter’s person for weapons.  In this kind of situation, a simple pat-down by the investigating officer is necessary and legal.

Officer Moore asked Netter if he had any weapons in the car, and Netter stated he did not.  Directing Netter to keep his hands in view, Moore opened the Honda’s driver’s side door so that Netter could exit the vehicle.  For the next few seconds, Netter complied with the officer’s directions, but became increasingly agitated.  He raised his voice, demanding to know why he was being “searched.”  Officer Moore attempted to explain that he was not interested in conducting a full search of his person.  Netter raised the volume of his arguments and began moving about in the car.  Officer Moore responded by raising his voice, and that tactic produced another few seconds of compliance by Netter.

But Netter could not keep still and would not obey the officer’s commands to keep his hands in sight.  Without any apparent explanation, he suddenly dove to his right, across the empty passenger’s seat.  In an attempt to subdue him, Officer Moore jumped into the car.  He engaged Netter, calling to his rider to get on the patrol car’s radio and call for help.  They struggled briefly, and then Officer Moore jumped out of the Honda shouting “Gun!”  He quickly drew his service weapon, and shouting to Netter to drop the gun and stop resisting, fired nine times at Netter, still in the front seat of the Honda.  The shots were fired at close range in two quick volleys.  Netter was struck eight times.

Officer Moore fired until Netter no longer presented a threat.  This is consistent with the training received by all Washington law enforcement officers.  When Netter stopped moving and dropped his pistol, Officer Moore immediately called for assistance, radioing that shots had been fired and that the subject had been hit.  He kept his weapon trained on Netter as he made the call, relaying to Cencom that an airlift was needed, but Netter’s weapon had not yet been secured.  Officer Moore made this call at 10:30:22 p.m.  Just over five minutes had passed since the contact began.

Other officers arrived within seconds and took control.2  An aid car arrived almost immediately, just after 10:30 p.m., and Central Kitsap Fire Department personnel removed Netter from the Honda.  No airlift was available.  He died on the way to the hospital.

A post mortem toxicology screening showed methamphetamine in his bloodstream at a level of 2.97 milligrams per liter (mg/L).  The “Drugs and Human Performance Fact Sheet” published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that a blood concentration of methamphetamine above 2.5 mg/L “will likely be associated with severe, possibly life threatening, toxicity.”

Netter’s body was the only object removed from the Honda until a search warrant was obtained Monday, July 26, 2010.  Netter’s pistol was found on the passenger-side floorboard in a location and position consistent with it falling from his hand after he was shot.  It was a fully loaded .40 caliber H & K semi-automatic.  There was a round in the chamber, the weapon was cocked, and the safety was off.

Washington State law defines a homicide as justified when a law enforcement officer finds deadly force necessary “to overcome actual resistance…in the discharge of a legal duty.”  RCW 9A.16.040(1)(b).  Poulsbo Police Officer Darrel Moore was lawfully on duty on the evening of July 23, 2010.  He stopped Matthew Netter after developing a reasonable suspicion that he was driving in an impaired state.  He treated Netter with courtesy and professionalism, even after Netter was identified as a possible threat.  When Netter became agitated, he attempted to control the situation with verbal commands.  Netter failed to respond to Officer Moore’s efforts and acted in an unambiguously hostile manner.  Still Officer Moore tried to bring him under control using the minimum force necessary.  But when Netter produced a pistol he left Officer Moore no other choice.  Officer Moore’s use of deadly force was more than justified—it was the only response possible.

The e-mail buzzed Republican County Commissioner candidate Abby Burlingame’s iPhone shortly after midnight.
But what made the message from the personal e-mail account of the Kitsap County Department of Community Development director most odd were the contents.

Following a terse first paragraph in which Larry Keeton says he learned the department had been made “a campaign issue,” Keeton got to his first of the five points in the July 15 treatise:

“I don’t take lightly any assault on my department’s staff. While I’m fair game, my staff is not. It’s the Army Colonel in me. Attack me for my leadership, not my staff. If you choose to, make sure it’s my decisions, not my personal integrity and honor. If you do, I think you’ll find few solid supporters in that arena; more importantly, I will defend myself in that regard.”

However, Keeton concedes he heard about the alleged trash talking second-hand. Burlingame, who forwarded the e-mail to the Central Kitsap Reporter, denies badmouthing the department staff and says her campaign’s beef is with the “anti-growth” policies of the commissioners. Meanwhile, Democrat and professional builder Wally Carlson, who has been outspoken in his criticism of the department and its employees, said he did not receive a similar e-mail.

Government officials usually tread carefully when responding to political candidates. Beyond offering to meet and answer questions, they usually don’t respond, they are too busy governing. There is also the chance that the candidate could be their boss one day.

Keeton did offer to meet with Burlingame, but between his opening warning and his offer to meet, Keeton included more than 600 words. To give an idea of length of points two through five, this post doesn’t have 600 words.

Burlingame thought it was inappropriate. She said she has been meeting with officials, and planned on contacting Keeton, but now plans not to.

If given the chance to take it back, Keeton said he would have still written to the candidate, but he would have taken a different tack. He said he is often awake late at night, working, and that’s when he sent the e-mail.

The tone was the result of frustration Keeton feels. His department has shrunk by more than 40 percent, he said. But there have been more than 200 “efficiencies” implemented in the nearly four years he’s been on the job.

Despite the economy-fueled decrease in the number of building permit applications — Keeton said a tiny fraction are denied — there are less people to do the work, and often applications are made by non-experts, requiring more time to ensure the plans conform to the law.

The process is open to criticism, he said, but uninformed criticism helps nobody. And he was quick to admit the department isn’t perfect.

Democratic Commissioner Josh Brown, who is a third of Keeton’s boss and opponent Burlingame’s prime target in the race for the District 3 commissioner’s seat, said he wished the director had taken a more “positive tone.”

Although Burlingame doesn’t intend to call on Keeton for a meeting, if elected she said she could work with him.

“It’s an e-mail, it’s not the end of the world.”

See original e-mail below:

From: “Larry Keeton” <XXXXXX@wavecable.com>
Date: July 15, 2010 12:11:17 AM PDT
To: <info@abbyburlingame.com>
Subject: Department of Community Development issues

Ms Burlingame,

As the Director of Community Development, I learned today that you and Mr. Carlson have decided to make the Department a campaign issue.

First, I don’t take lightly any assault on my department’s staff. While I’m fair game, my staff is not. It’s the Army Colonel in me. Attack me for my leadership, not my staff. If you choose to, make sure it’s my decisions, not my personal integrity and honor. If you do, I think you’ll find few solid supporters in that arena; more importantly, I will defend myself in that regard.

Second,  you’re running on a campaign platform to “streamline” the permitting system. What does that mean? Do you know the issues we face under federal and state law that might preclude this “streamline” process? I agree we need to continue to find efficiencies. Are you willing to suggest that the department be given additional resources at the expense of a Sheriff’s Deputy? Given that we’re a special revenue fund, are you willing to suggest that fees need to be increased to bring on more staff to process the permits? Or are you willing to suggest that we only take in applications that are professionally prepared versus the citizen who decides to draw his plan out without fully following the code requirements? Are you willing to suggest a formal standard by all the engineering firms, such as WSDOT requires, to help streamline the process? Are you willing to suggest that maybe contractors who build should be code certified as other states require before they become contractors? It’s easy to say that government needs to change, but what about those submitting their permit applications? Shouldn’t they have a requirement to be correct when they submit? You’ve not asked to speak with me or my staff regarding the issues we face. It appears you’re  only hearing people who have issues with the department because they didn’t get what they want, I’ll be more than willing to spend time with you presenting the other side of the story. Leadership is about making decision based on facts, not emotion. I know. I’ve been doing it for over thirty five years, and people’s lives, not some permit  weighed in the decision. The mark of a good leader isn’t identifying that they have a problem, but how they solve the problem.  My track record in problem solving got me here. And, I’m not hearing key stakeholders asking for my head on a platter. Quite the opposite.

Third, Representative Angel is endorsing you, as well as the Realtor Association. Have you asked them what they think of the Department under my leadership? I was hired by Representative Angel when she was a Commissioner. Did she make a mistake? During her tenure here, and after her departure, she’s not called for my termination. Nor have the Realtors, the Homebuilders, the environmental community, etc. Am I missing something?

Fourth, does the Department have problems? You bet. But, in the last three years, we’ve implemented over 200 process improvements. We’ve got performance standards that we report accurately, even when they are not flattering. As a Department, we’ve been  as transparent as we can be because I have a personal value system that requires it.  We’ve reduce staff from 87 FTE to 48.5 since 2008, many taking a 20-25% cut in salary, including the management team. There was no public outcry with those reductions, but now people complain they are not getting their permits within two to four weeks. That was the standard staffed at the previous level. It’s like being in the only barbershop in town. If there’s only one barber and ten people walk in the door at the same time, nine are going to have to wait. But, if you asked the customer to pay more money to hire another barber so they didn’t have to wait, what would they say? Most likely answer, no, we’ll wait. But, when it comes to government, that’s unacceptable. I have to ask why? Don’t  you?

Fifth, in the last campaign, out of the field of many, only two candidates ever visited me to discuss departmental issues. Then they drew up their solutions. One of them won their election. The other one was an incumbent who had the advantage of knowing what was happening.

If you would like to meet with me or my deputy, please contact me at 337-4402/XXXX. As of next Friday, I won’t have an administrative assistant due to retirement and our inability to hire a replacement, so phone calls will go to my voice mail. Given the number of calls I receive a day, it might be awhile before I get back to you. Alternatively, you can respond to this email, or my office email at lkeeton@co.kitsap.wa.us.

Regards,

Larry Keeton

Director, Community Development

Kitsap County

For Central Kitsap, I had the pleasure of visiting and writing about the Big Apple Diner, 6720 Kitsap Way, and Aloha Kitchen, 10516 Silverdale Way. Staff writer Wesley Remmer helped out on the beat by visiting and writing about Seabeck mainstay, the Lone Rock Grocery and Deli.

Maybe you’ve been to these places or maybe you will try them out for the first time. Either way, bon appetit!

-Chris

It’s not quite the sandy beaches of the Caribbean or Bahamas, but the developing communities of Paraguay.

It’s winter there by the way.

Kleiva is one of four Central Kitsap High School students traveling to South America this summer to volunteer their time with youth in struggling communities in developing countries. A student from Kingston is also going.

“I’m really interested in other cultures,” she said. “(I’m) not giving up my summer but spending it in a different way.”

Kleiva, now a junior at CK, left Tuesday morning with fellow cougar Jordyn Oleachea, now a senior, for Paraguay. It’s a two-day journey just to get there, she said.

The students are participating through the Seattle chapter of an international volunteer program, called AMIGOS. Each volunteer is assigned a project and paired with another volunteer and together spend six to eight weeks in their assigned community.

The students raised about $5,000 each through donations and fund raising to help pay their way down south.

For Kleiva, she will reverse her traditional role in the classroom and become the teacher. She said part of her project assignment is to teach daily classes on topics including basic hygiene and drinking safe, clean water.

Speaking of water, the other half of her assignment is a little different — she’ll be digging latrines.

“It wasn’t my number one (choice), but I’m happy with it,” she said.

When not breaking ground or teaching class, Kleiva will put her three years of Spanish class to use learning about her host family who likely won’t know any English.

Joining Kleiva and Oleachea is Vashti Tracy and Taylor Romero.

Good luck, Cougars.

Their stories often go untold, but feature students with true character and drive to succeed.

I know for me personally, the interviews with Central Kitsap students was both eye-opening and powerful. Listening to Li Kang Liao recall having been thrust into class at CK High not knowing a word of English put all the first day of school experiences I’ve ever had into perspective. Bethany Garcia‘s narrative of moving from foster home to foster home and dealing with depression all the while struggling to stay focused on homework was inspiring. Richard Shields‘ battle with a blood disease and listening to his mother, Tracee McKinney, talk about the loss of time he should have spent as a young man playing football or hanging out with friends was difficult to put into words and do his story justice. It’s not only the students that learn. Jessica Kennedy‘s parents, John and Vicki, explained how they too learned about individuality and that not every student, even just their four daughters, follow the same path to graduation.

So thank you Li Kang, Bethany, Richard and Jessica for sharing your story with the Central Kitsap Reporter. Best of luck to you and the rest of the Class of 2010.

-Chris

(http://insearchofmayberry.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/tags_title.jpg)

Many, including myself, treasure the memories of going fishing with the old man. Nothing beats sitting on the water’s edge attempting to undo an impossible knot in your fishing line.

The annual youth fishing derby is coming up — Saturday, June 19 — and registration is already closed. But, there’s still hope.

300 kids — the maximum — have already signed up. However, anyone interested can put themselves on a wait list with the county in case a spot opens up at one of the several sessions offered. The county’s parks department can be reached at (360) 337-5350.

It’s for kids 5 to 14 years old and costs $5. It doesn’t seem like much for a day relaxing and drinking a nice, cool juice box on the shore of Island Lake. The cost also includes the fishing rod and reel (which apparently they get to keep) and a T-shirt. Pretty rad deal if you ask me.

Here’s a poster with some information.

Arvilla Ohlde, president of the Bremerton Sportsman’s Club, said about 1,200 Rainbow Trout will be released in the lake for the event. So, even if you can’t get a spot during the actual event, you’ll likely catch something if you bring your gear down post-derby. It ends around 2 p.m., Ohlde said.

Because the event fills up quickly, Ohlde said organizers are considering adding an another day but likely not this year.

If any of ya’ll head out there, send me some pictures, I’d like to post them here on the CK Wire.

-Chris

What I didn’t expect was the little furry fellas who made a home between our wood shutters and the house paneling.

My family is preparing to repaint the outside of the house. I was tasked with climbing up a ladder and prying wood shutters off the house in preparation for the painters. As I began prying with a force one might call menacing, a high-pitched screeching noise,  like a distressed chirp, tipped me off that something was living there and didn’t appreciate sharp metal being thrust into its home. Angry little chap.

I pried the wood away from the house enough to see what “it” was.

A bat. Two actually. From this picture you can only see one of them but trust me, his buddy was in there. It was clear when he (or she?) flew out  and nearly knocked me off the ladder from two stories up. The flash of imminent doom followed by relief that I kept my balance, followed by anger toward the bat left my body as I watched the creature fly directly into our neighbor’s satellite dish, bounce off, and lie motionless on the roof.

Seriously, it was sad.

But, the bat eventually took off again, apparently unharmed.

As for its shutter mate, he or she remained betwixt the shutter and the house. I removed the shutter carefully, having already pried most of it off.

The bat dropped to the ground. I thought for sure it was dead. I don’t fancy myself a bat killer you see, and I love Bruce Wayne so this was somewhat traumatic.

Don’t worry, he has since flown the roost and has disappeared into the skies of East Bremerton suburbia.

All-in-all, four bats were found, all of which flew away. Good luck guys.

Gerry Hayes, a biologist with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, said there are at least 15 species of bats living in the state. Also, he said it’s not uncommon for them to make a home in attics or in any hole or crevice they can fit into.

Despite the negative association between bats and rabies, Hayes said he estimates that less than 1 percent of bats actually carry the virus. Still, he said, people should always avoid coming in direct contact with bats, dead or alive.

If homeowners discover bats and want to remove them, Hayes suggests calling local animal control or pest control specialists who can remove the bats without killing them. When occupying human dwellings, bats are not considered protected wildlife.

Instead of getting rid of them altogether, Hayes said residents should consider erecting a bat house giving the creatures another place to roost. With as many insects and pests the bats eat, it’s helpful to have them around.

Here’s a plan for a bat house I found over at http://www.batsnorthwest.org/

Oh, and I think I am going to submit a patent for this get-up you see here. It’s the soon-to-be-official bat encountering uniform. It’s going to make more money from it then say, a “nose cozy.” or the ubiquitous snuggie.

(Above) Marie Whatley, an employee at the Bremerton Conference Center Starbucks, hauls garbage from the store in the rain June 2.

If any of you readers take some cool shots, don’t hesitate to send ‘em on in. I’d love to see what you all are up to. They may even end up on the blog.

Send photos to ccarter@centralkitsapreporter.com

Thanks for reading,

-Chris

Colleen Armstrong, editor at Islands Sounder, hooked me up with a photo from a break-in at a local market up there where authorities believe he went Jack Bauer on an ATM.

Apparently the 19-year-old Camano Island version of Jesse James doesn’t have time to waste on those silly machines.

Exhibit A:

Be warned all you cash-dispensing automated tellers in Kitsap, Harris-Moore won’t take your outrageous usage fees lying down.

I attended a ceremony Monday at Klahowya Secondary School honoring graduating seniors in the Central Kitsap School District who are also of Native American descent. Superintendent Greg Lynch mentioned that about 1 percent of all CK students claim Native American heritage. But it was what he said next that seemed unreal — of that 1 percent more, than 90 tribes are represented.

I asked the district office about it and Spokesman David Beil confirmed it. Here’s the data he sent me.

I’m looking into this more for a full story, but it was too interesting not to share.

-Chris

Mark Hoffman dons an authentic mask from Mardis Gras he acquired during one of his visits.

I visited Mark Hoffman at his Bainbridge Island home for a story Lynsi Burton wrote for the Bremerton Patriot/CK Reporter. The man was full of interesting stories including interviews with Keith Richards and B.B. King.

Mark Hoffman posing with one of his favorite guitars.

I know the above shot is out of focus, but I still really liked it. Almost didn’t post it because of the lack of clarity, but it had a lot of character which was something Hoffman was all about.

Hoffman has a music room in his Bainbridge Island house. On the walls are various pieces of memorabilia including a copy of Robert Johnson’s death certificate … from the courthouse. He said only a handful exist.

Mark Hoffman displays a picture of Howlin' Wolf

The above picture was selected, in color, for the front page of the Patriot/Reporter this week. I felt the black and white version had a little more of a bluesy/historic feel to it, but you can’t argue with color on the front page.

Mark Hoffman

Simple yet powerful, I liked this shot a lot. I was hoping it might make it in the paper. I don’t know why, but I was really digging Hoffman’s beard. The guy has a fun and energetic personality, but can put on a serious face.

Mark Hoffman

Hoffman balanced his love for music and writing often, working at times as a columnist and a critic.

The above shot was probably my favorite of the set. It ended up inside, in black and white. Hoffman’s house had some pretty harsh shadows and difficult lighting. Sometimes, you just have to take advantage of what you have.

I made it out to Klahowya Secondary School this morning to check out some students cooking up a storm in the classroom for a story. Four students, Alyson Kreifels, Bethany Sheridan, Emily Gorecki and Paige Junkin are headed to Chicago in July for a national competition through their school FCCLA club.

Their entry is a granola bar packed full of protein and fiber with no processed sugars. Apparently the students are going nuts over this snack. The group has already won first at regionals and state, so I figured I’d see what the buzz is all about.

First, I have to apologize. I ate the thing before remembering it would be useful to take a picture. Wasn’t just my fault. Food in the newsroom doesn’t last long.

Secondly, I have to say, the students know how to sell their product. They made me hungry just hearing them talk about it. But, I was skeptical. I have had my fair share of granola bars and I wasn’t about to go easy on them.

Until I tried it.

Soft enough to save my teeth and yet firm enough to stay together without crumbling, I was intrigued. There are at least four fruits in the mix, and you can just about taste each one individually. The dry granola wasn’t offsetting and it almost felt juicy to bite into, and that was refreshing. There wasn’t an overwhelming amount of chocolate and that scored points with me as well.

Although the students developed a pretty creative and unique bonding agent that was soft and flexible yet firm, it wasn’t sticky to the touch. More points.

And so, as it turns out, the Chocolate Granola Crunch Bar was just as good as the cooks behind it promised me it would be.

Bummed that I tasted this awesomeness and you were left out? No worries. The bars will be for sale at all Kitsap Emerald City Smoothie locations soon. And, if you like them as much as I did, you have these fine young ladies to thank.

As these moving and inspirational photos attest, the ball is officially rolling. Okay, I was joking about the pictures — they’re breathtaking. In the way Dr. Ben Feffa calls the baby breathtaking on Seinfeld.

Sounds like the groundbreaking ceremony, at 9729 Silverdale Way NW, will begin at about 11 a.m. and feature a lunch and bulldozer rides. Giddyup

-Chris

1) A presentation from Mentor Company on what’s to become of the vacant Sandpiper restaurant on Bucklin Hill Road. From what we’ve reported so far, it sounds like the Sandpiper is scheduled for demolition here in the next week or so and a new development is going up in its place — three retail spaces and a new restaurant, Hop Jacks.

2) Representatives of the YMCA to talk about the status of the Silverdale Community Campus location.

3) Mary McClure and Vicky Clarke of the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council are scheduled to talk about the Kitsap Trails Plan

4) A presentation from the Kitsap Regional Library on challenges with placing a new library on the Silverdale Community Campus

5) Community members Tex Lewis and Mary Earl to discuss the Welcome to Silverdale sign. (You can read a little bit about it from an earlier blog post)

Last week there was quite a discussion on Silverdale incorporation but it didn’t make it to the agenda this time. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it come up again.

Thanks for reading,

-Chris

In the style of popular website Engrish, the New York Times collected a list of funny, quirky and all-around failblog-worthy signage from around the world. No list would be complete without Kitsap’s contribution and somehow Bremerton dodged the bullet.

Here’s the photo that made the list from Poulsbo:

Keep it real NK and don’t be offended. I love Voodiez and Mr. Bob the octopus.

Owner Gurdarshan Kaberwall is planning on reopening Studio 21 — now called Club Gemini — after the it was voluntarily closed following complaints and a February shooting incident. While it is still unknown when the doors to the restaurant/nightclub will open, Kaberwall’s son Sunny Singh said he hopes to be back in business in the coming weeks. Singh is managing the restaurant portion of the business.

Studio 21 co-owner Scott Hlinka, responsible in part for bringing the club to Bremerton will not be a part of the business, Singh said.

So, it looks like you’ll get another shot at getting your groove on. But if you plan on showing up, you best behave because the owner won’t take any guff.

Singh said security has been beefed up, increasing the number if personnel on hand. Additional security cameras have been installed as well, he said, adding that there will be more control over who comes in and out and refusing service to patrons that show up already intoxicated.

The restaurant’s menu is still being developed, but Singh said it will feature classic American food like wings, hamburgers and fries with an added emphasis on barbecue this time around. The restaurant will open at about 4 p.m. and the nightclub and dancing will take over at about 10 p.m., Singh said. He also said there are talks about opening the restaurant early on some days offering a lunch menu.

Also, if you’re a fan of hip-hop you might be disappointed. Singh said there will be more of a reggae vibe spinning from the disk jockey’s fingers rather than your Lil Wayne or Eminem.

In an effort to attract more than just a gaggle of bored 23-somethings, Singh said the restaurant will feature televisions for sports games and karaoke. Live music is scheduled as well, but Singh was unable to elaborate.

Like everyone else in the county, I’ve been hearing the rumors but Trader Joe’s spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki said Kitsap isn’t on the radar.

“At this time Kitsap is not in our two-year plan,” she said Thursday.

So, if you’re looking to find that New Orleans-style coffee with chicory, you’ll have to pack up the kids and head on over to the 16 Trader Joe’s locations in Washington. The Seattle area has a few and down south in Olympia you’ll be in luck.

My mom’s going to boycott my blog after this.

Washington has some of the worst access to emergency health services. And, it’s not getting any better, especially for those struggling from mental illness.
While access to services ranks atop the list, resources — housing being the most in demand — are scarce.
Mentally ill patients in Kitsap County, and elsewhere, hardly stay in one place. Whether on the street, in jail, in transitional housing or strapped to a gurney in a hospital emergency room, mentally ill patients take up residence wherever there’s room.
“It’s very easy to be victimized if you have mental illness,” said Rochelle Doan, spokeswoman for Kitsap Mental Health Services, adding that mental health agencies are sometimes the last hope before someone commits a crime or otherwise becomes a danger to him or herself or the public. “The people that we serve can be very vulnerable.”
When patients leave institutions like Western State Hospital, they sometimes have no place to go. Agencies like Kitsap Mental Health Services in Bremerton will take them for further treatment and board them temporarily in transitional stabilization facilities like the new Keller House.
State and local lawmakers helped dedicate the 16,000 square foot Keller House April 7. The facility, located on the Kitsap Mental Health Services campus in Bremerton. It will serve both as a replacement for the current World War II-era Burwell House in downtown Bremerton and as a place to house additional services.
The first to take up residence at the new facility will be carry-overs from the three-story Burwell House building near Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
Doan said Burwell House wasn’t serving it’s patients well, was cramped and had accessibility issues.
There are only eight rooms with two patients to a room which can sometimes be a problem.
Burwell House will be renovated following the move to Keller House to accommodate clients able to live independently.
As its name implies, transitional housing doesn’t last long. Once discharged, patients can use Kitsap Mental Health Services’ resources to find affordable housing. Between the few places willing to take mentally ill residents and what those residents can afford on sub-adequate income, there are not many options.
Through relationships with local landlords and housing agencies, Doan said Kitsap Mental Health Services has more than 70 places for clients to live. But that’s not nearly enough, she said.
Advocates say it’s unacceptable for those in the population suffering from mental illness to be on the street. However, it’s a reality few want to talk about.
Because of the demand for housing in the Kitsap area, social workers bring client cases before a committee who will ultimately decide who gets a home if and when there is an opening.
“You’re going to decide who gets the space and who gets literally left in the cold,” said Rick Herrell, special projects manager at Kitsap Mental Health Services and committee member.
It gets worse for patients suffering from acute mental illness, those greatest at risk for being a danger to themselves or others. It is this portion of the population that sometime slip through the cracks and have committed a crime.
Shortage of beds for those with acute mental illness, usually requiring involuntary commitment, has been a problem for years and Washington is  experiencing the worst. The state was ranked last in available beds statewide — 8 per 100,000 people — according to a 2008 report by the Treatment Advocacy Center. The national recommendation is around 50 per 100,000 people.
The shortage follows the closing of major mental hospitals, known as asylums, beginning in the 1960s.
For every 20 public psychiatric beds that existed in the United States in 1955, only one such bed existed in 2005, according to the report.
Because of an amendment in 1950 to the Social Security Act, mental health agencies cannot operate in-patient facilities that have bed space for more than 16 patients at a time in order to receive federal dollars.
Mental health advocates say the law keeps them from doing their job.
“It’s a tremendous hindrance,” said Larry Keller, retired executive director for Kitsap Mental Health Services and for who the Keller House is named.
The law was never intended to prevent agencies like Kitsap Mental Health from performing their duties, Keller said, citing the difference in the way mental health is identified, evaluated and treated today compared to 60 years ago.
“The law was written years and years ago and has never been changed to the current needs,” he said.
While some have tried to operate larger facilities with more beds, the financial strain is too much. In Kitsap, it’s likely there won’t be anymore beds anytime soon.
“We will always have to look for federal support and state support to meet demands,” said Joe Roszak, Kitsap Mental Health Services’ executive director.
Health benefits are often the most important asset patients have. They would be stripped under the current law if they were admitted to somewhere with more than 16 beds.
“Medicaid is pretty much the safety net provided to folks with mental illness,” he said.
When there is no other option, patients are sent to local hospitals and boarded wherever there is room, usually in the emergency ward, said Herrell. He said that while it is a worst-case scenario, it happens. He said patients are sometimes strapped to a gurney and left for up to 24 hours until a bed somewhere, even across the state, opens up.
Although hospitals will temporarily board patients, that’s the extent of their involvement.
Hospitals, like Harrison Medical Center, have closed units used to treat mentally ill patients. Harrison’s behavioral health unit was closed in May 2009.
Even with some of its own mentally ill population still on the street, Kitsap has become a hotspot for treatment and boarding — when there is room.
Kitsap is part of a network including Jefferson and Clallam counties.
Known as the Peninsula Regional Support Network, the tri-county consortium provides a way for resources to be shared. Kitsap however, bears most the burden. Nearly 70 percent of the services shared by the agreement are provided in Kitsap alone, said Anders Edgerton, the network’s regional administrator.
He said that in 2008, the region had 512 detentions with nearly 300 of them at the adult inpatient facility in Kitsap.

The timing is interesting considering KAPO is in the middle of a lawsuit against Kitsap County regarding laws used to create buffer zones on shorelines. Because the case has made its way to the Supreme Court and could return in some fashion, Sanders wouldn’t comment or answer questions regarding the specifics.

Instead, Sanders spent a good amount of time on eminent domain, specifically in regards to the seizing of private property for private use, while attendees chowed down on General Tso’s chicken and self-serve ice cream. He cited several cases, two in Seattle, to illustrate the overreaching ability of the government to try and take property that it doesn’t need and then turn around and sell it for profit.

Closer to home, Sanders changed subjects and cited a case decided in 2005 where a group of building developers sought restitution to the tune of $3.3 million from Kitsap County. The county collected that money via impact fees attached to building permits. In the end, the state’s Supreme Court ruled the county did not need to give the money back because the developers failed to file suit within 21 days.  Sanders dissented. After reading a part of his dissenting opinion, the crowd cheered, and then everything switched gears.

Sanders is up for re-election, and the latter part of his speech was dedicated to dismissing rumors from his challenger, Charlie Wiggins. Wiggins is a former court of appeals judge. Coincidentally, Wiggins is scheduled to speak to KAPO at a future meeting.

Off topic from property rights, the issue of campaign contributions popped up. As it is now, anyone wanting to contribute to a campaign are limited to a $1,600 donation, Sanders said. He said that cap promotes independent expenditures, meaning independent individuals or groups spend their own money to find creative ways of either supporting a candidate, or helping dissuade supporters of his or her challenger. Think attack ads.

“I see some problems with the independent expenditures,” he said. “The candidate doesn’t have to take responsibility, in fact, he cannot take responsibility.”

The question was raised by an attendee about whether Sanders thought campaign donations, if uncapped, could buy bias. The question was asked loosely in connection with an earlier discussion on Sanders’ support of the Building Industry Association of Washington which has a record of financial support for the justice.

“I don’t think people donate to a candidate to change their mind,” he said. “It just doesn’t happen.”

Opened an e-mail this afternoon and it looks like Congressman Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island, was checking out some pretty sleek sets of wheels yesterday. (Photo credit: Mark Finkenstaedt)

Congressman Jay Inslee with the Chevy Volt for Earth Day 2010 outside the Russell Senate Office Building. Credit: Mark Finkenstaedt

In honor of Earth Day, automakers rolled into Washington D.C. with their environmentally-friendly rides.

While Inslee (who looks dashing in these photos, no lie) has a record showing concern for the environment, the pictures make me think of a few photo ops that maybe didn’t show their subjects in the best light …

Anyone remember when Dukakis wanted to prove he was tough, kind of like a soldier?

But then, he kind of didn’t get elected because his opponents flipped it around on him and exposed the picture for how kind of silly it really is.

And then, there was Kerry emerging gloriously from a spacecraft. Enough said.

The two major topics were on a new effort toward the incorporation of Silverdale and the budget scenario facing local schools, the county, and the state

Three legislators — Rep. Fred Finn, D-Olympia, Rep. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island and Rep. Kathy Haigh, D-Shelton — attended.

Randy Biegenwald, a Silverdale Certified Public Accountant, spoke to the council about the inevitability taking on incorporating Silverdale. Biegenwald, who has been a part of at least two previous attempts, said he wished Silverdale would have went ahead and got it over with back when Kitsap Mall was built. Others didn’t share that same enthusiasm.

Silverdale would likely be the largest city in the county in terms of population, beating out Bremerton by nearly 5,000 residents, according to numbers from County Commissioner Josh Brown. And, it sits pretty with a fire station headquartered nearby, a water district, sheriff’s office and schools among other services already in place.

Brown didn’t have much to say other than the county would obviously feel the financial shock of losing it’s retail hub to cityhood.

“It would be shortsighted to say we should ignore the changes,” he said.

Biegenwald acknowledged the difficulties, but made it clear there’s never going to be  better time.

“The longer you wait, the uglier it’s going to be,” he said.

Biegenwald mentioned the last few efforts were marred by “tactical errors” to which he gave few clues about what exactly they were. After the meeting though, he said the committees that had been organized to push for incorporation were made up of people living OUTSIDE the Silverdale Urban Growth Area. Yeah, that could be a problem.

Central Kitsap School District Superintendent Greg Lynch spoke briefly about the financial burden the last legislative session has put on local schools.

“We’re looking for more, with less,” he said.

By 2012, he said, the district will have cut nearly $17 million from its budgets since 2004.

Lynch alluded to potential teacher layoffs, an always-contentious subject that is being studied by the school board right now. They held a study session Monday, and have another scheduled for Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the administrative building. Here’s the latest information provided to the board on the budget. If you are having trouble falling asleep tonight, give it a quick read.

The three legislators gave feedback from their late nights in Olympia trying to get the tax packages through. Nothing that hasn’t already been reported.

Haigh was the last to speak, and ended by letting everyone know that there’s a silver lining in the budget proposals … somewhere.

“The ship is going down, it is,” she said. “In reality, what we tried to do, we’re just trying to give you a landing on the Hudson River.”

Area where the memorial was planned for, pending a decision by the port commissioners.

The meeting is tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the port office, 3550 Northwest Byron Street in the Old Town district. It is open to the public.

Commissioner Ed Scholfield, who during discussions seemed to favor the memorial’s placement on the port property, abstained from voting. The other two commissioners, Henry Aus and Lawrence Greaves voted 2-0 to deny the request.

Scholfield had few dissenting comments regarding the decision other than to say it was a missed opportunity for the Old Town district.

“If it’s not in this area, it’s not going to help any businesses,” he said.

Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Roy Lusk called the decision “disheartening,” but said the 9/11 Memorial Committee simply needs to move on to site number three.

“We’re not going to lose faith and we’ll see it’s brought to Kitsap County,” he said, adding that there is a list of potential locations. “Anything is possible right now.”

There were a few community members at the port office to show their support, and they left pretty upset. It looks as though they will still have their memorial, just not down by the water.

——————————————–

An interesting thing has been going on. It seems, there is some opposition to the memorial (we have a few letters to the editor) and yet, I had some trouble getting people to go on the record about that opposition. We have a “word on the street” feature that we do each week, and last week I asked people for their opinion. Several were opposed to the memorial, not based on its purpose or meaning, but because the location seemed arbitrary and that the memorial felt forced upon the public.

One local business owner said she didn’t see the connection to the area, and then asked her name not be used because she was afraid people would get the wrong idea about her view on an event that affected everyone in this country. She wasn’t alone either.

Not sure what to think about all that, maybe I just stopped the wrong people to ask their thoughts. We’ll see what people say about it once the project gets the green light.

Also, whether the port commissioners approve the memorial for the area or not, the steel is coming. Lusk said the steel will arrive in Silverdale August 22, sometime in the evening. The steel will be dropped off in the north parking lot of the Kitsap Mall, where people can check it out and take pictures, he said.

Silverdale farmers and crafters are ditching the wind tunnel behind the Silverdale Beach Hotel for some prime real estate on the Silverdale waterfront. Apparently the Port of Silverdale asked Silverdale Farmer’s Market organizer Monica Phillips if she would move the market to the grassy area and parking lot between the dock and the boat launch.

Those looking to bring a 9/11 memorial to that same area probably wish they had an open invitation too. Not likely. But, that’s a different story.

The market opens for business Tuesday for the first time this season. Supporting your local farmers and buying fresh food is cool these days, isn’t it? You know you want to. Here’s the story.

Central Kitsap School District Spokesman David Beil said it is too early to tell how that number will affect CK schools. That $100 million number will be processed by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction where a new number gets tossed to the individual school districts to deal with. Beil said it looks as though the OSPI might release district-ready information by April 22.

When the legislature convened for the special session last month, Beil said the district was considering the worst case scenario — a $4.3 million cut from next school year’s budget. If preliminary numbers hold, Beil said the cut should be less, somewhere around $3 million. Still, the district will have to find a way to create a budget for next year that is missing $3 million from the state. This year’s budget was $115 million.

State Superintendent Randy Dorn released a statement today saying he is “relatively pleased” with the budget.

The next school board meeting is Monday (April 19) beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Jenne-Wright building on Silverdale Way.

It would make sense that the question be directed to Mann-Sykes, seeing as he’s a Silverdale legend and all. Coincidentally, it was his son Joshua who constructed the sign six years ago as an Eagle Scout project. Whoops.

Here’s what the sign looks like now:

Apparently the sign was torn up following a wind storm sometime back, and it has yet to be mended.

Mann-Sykes said he thinks the county should pitch in to fix it up. He said the groups who use the board for free advertising (Rotary, Lions, Whaling Days) should have lent a hand.

The entrance to Silverdale now looks like you’re driving into Gorst. Next thing you know, there will be young ladies serving coffee in their bikinis.

“It looks terrible, it’s an eyesore,” Mann-Sykes said, adding that he was disappointed that no one has come forward to help yet. “It’s the welcome sign to our community.”

In April…? Really?

And, I hear more wild weather is potentially headed our way Thursday. Here’s an advisory from the National Weather Service. Hang in there CK.

-Christopher

I can’t be the only one who does this.

One thing I want to do with this blog, as I start it up, is to track down a few of these elusive CK places/things and let you know what they are, what they will be or even what they were. If you have something you think would be worth checking out, let me know ( ccarter@centralkitsapreporter.com )

So, next time you’re walking your dog along the Clear Creek Trail or driving through April snow in Seabeck, and you think to yourself, “What is that?” well, we’ll figure it out.

Until next time CK,

-Christopher