 The Kitsap community lost an amazing icon when Natalie Bryson passed away June 19 at age 87. The Board of County Commissioners proudly passed a resolution July 9 to honor Natalie and her incredible contributions.
Natalie was a founding member of the Central Kitsap Community Council and remained on it until her passing. She was an engaged and passionate community activist, belonging to and leading many organizations including the Kitsap County HIV/AIDS Foundation, Navy League, World Affairs Council, Washington State China Relations Council, and the Silverdale Rotary Foundation.
In addition to being the first woman to join the Silverdale Rotary, she was a 50-year member of the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce, and founded the Paul Linder Educational Foundation to support students and staff of the Central Kitsap School District. She was instrumental in bringing the YMCA to Silverdale. Her contributions to Kitsap County will long be remembered.
|
 Construction of additions to two Silverdale institutions – the Harrison Medical Center and Central Kitsap schools – is in full swing over the summer.
County Commissioners joined Kitsap County mayors, Harrison executives and construction personnel for a tour of the new hospital campus. Construction on the $500 million project continues at a rapid pace in the dry weather. The result will be the most energy-efficient hospital in Washington, and patient rooms will have amazing views of Dyes Inlet and the Olympic Mountains. The hospital is slated to be open for patients in January 2020. The facility will be a great asset for Silverdale, Kitsap County and beyond when finished. Photo courtesy of Jared
Ribic.
The Central Kitsap School District is taking advantage of students on summer break to ramp up its projects at the CK High and Middle School campus, Klahowya Secondary School and Olympic High School. At the CK campus, windows and roofs were installed, and work continues on new tennis courts and ballfields. Crews will add a left-turn lane on Anderson Hill Road, which may cause some delays for motorists. For more information, visit http://www.ckschools.org/about/construction_updates/construction_milestones/.
Projected opening dates for theses new and upgrades facilities are:
Central Kitsap Middle School - Spring 2019
Central Kitsap High School - Fall 2019
Olympic High School - Fall 2018
Klahowya Secondary School - Summer 2018
|
 |
CK Middle School entrance. Photo courtesy of CKSD.
The quality of life in Kitsap County is largely due to
the easy access to its 371 miles of shoreline, mountains and grand forests that provide
abundant recreational opportunities, making this peninsula such a special and
unique place. The air and water quality here is much greater than conditions
for urban neighbors in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, according to the Puget
Sound Clean Air Agency.
In addition to clean air and water, Kitsap County has
over 10,000 acres of parkland, which is remarkable for a county this size. About
7,600 acres are contained within the large county heritage parks and over 2,300 acres
are in Central Kitsap. These areas not only provide residents and visitors recreational opportunities, they also preserve and protect open space, wildlife habitat and aquifer
recharge areas.
Our parks wouldn’t be nearly as popular, accessible or well-maintained
without the dedication of nearly 1,000 park steward volunteers. These stewards help with
planning and mapping, maintain and improve existing trails, build new routes,
bridges and boardwalks, and even raise funds for new amenities. Last month,
County Commissioners recognized Frank Stricklin, his wife Pat and son Mike as
Kitsap County Outstanding County Government Volunteers for their extraordinary
contributions to protect the county’s natural resources, educate the public and
share their passion for county parks.
The Stricklin family has been instrumental in the
creation of the Newberry Hill Heritage Park Stewardship Group that manages and
maintains the 1,100-acre park. They also help coordinate the Friends
of Newberry Hill Heritage Park, a nonprofit organization that financially
supports the park.
Stricklin Family
 After more than a decade of dreaming, planning,
and fundraising, the Marvin Williams Recreation Center opened in
Bremerton in April. The center is the vision of Bishop Larry Robertson, founder
of Emmanuel Apostolic Church, who saw the need for a central gathering place to
foster community and offer recreational and social activities for kids and
adults.
With Bishop Robertson’s perseverance and energy, $7.2
million was raised to construct the center, located at Dr. Martin Luther King
Way and Park Avenue near downtown Bremerton. The recreation center’s namesake, Marvin
Williams, a Bremerton native who plays for the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, was a
major donor to the project and came back home to celebrate the opening.
The Marvin Williams Recreation Center offers a wide
variety of classes for all ages including fitness classes, salsa and ballroom
dancing, coding, cooking, job skills training, and family safety and self-defense.
There are also meeting rooms and a gymnasium available to rent for private
events and parties.
For more information, visit https://mwcenter.org/.
|
 New gymnasium
Visit the associated websites for more information on
these projects and to sign up to receive e-mail or text message updates.
-
Silverdale Way expansion There is
finally a light at the end of the tunnel for drivers in Silverdale. Road improvement
investments began with the $11 million project on Silverdale Way between Byron
Street and Anderson Hill Road. By early fall, the road project will be
completed on schedule. Improvements will include a widened roadway with two lanes in
each direction, a center turn lane, five-foot bike lanes, six-foot planting
strips, eight-foot sidewalks and upgraded stormwater treatment. Improvements are also being made on Byron Street
and Pacific Avenue. Thank you to everyone, especially the businesses in the
area, for your continued patience.
Project updates are available at http://kitsap.paladinpanoramic.com/project/2232/54723
-
Ridgetop Boulevard Work continues on
widening Silverdale’s Ridgetop Boulevard, north of Waaga Way. The project is on
time and on budget, and should be complete by spring of 2019. Thank
you for your continued patience during construction! To learn more, go to http://kitsap.paladinpanoramic.com/project/2232/54721.
-
Tracyton Boulevard Culvert Replacement Part
of Tracyton Boulevard is closed to all vehicles and pedestrians until September
2018 between Darling Road and Silver Beach Drive as crews replace a stream
culvert under the road. A detour route is established along Stamped Boulevard
and Fairgrounds Road. Tracyton Boulevard will reopen temporarily August 19-27,
three days before the Kitsap County Fair & Stampede gets underway and one
day after it ends. To learn more, go to http://kitsap.paladinpanoramic.com/project/2232/54730.
-
Silverdale Pump Station The sewer pump
station near Silverdale Waterfront Park in Old Town off Byron Street is being
replaced. Kitsap County Public Works, along with the Commissioners’ Office and
Parks Department, are working with the Port of Silverdale on a design for the
new facility. The new design will minimize noise, odor and visual impacts. Kitsap County
partnered with the Port of Silverdale on a public survey to gain input on ideas
for other improvements and uses along the waterfront, including recreational
facilities. Check out the survey results and more information here: http://kitsap.paladinpanoramic.com/project/2233/55054.
-
Bay Shore Drive With the design phase
nearly complete, construction on Bay Shore Drive is slated for 2019. Sewer and
stormwater upgrades will occur between Washington Avenue and Bucklin Hill Road,
with possible intermittent road closures during construction. The project will not only enhance the
treatment of stormwater that flows into Dyes Inlet, it will also add new
sidewalks and street lighting. Stay tuned for updates as the plan progresses.
For more information, go to: http://kitsap.paladinpanoramic.com/project/2233/55056.
With summer in full swing, there are many special events
to look forward to in Central Kitsap. The major highlight is, of course,
the Kitsap County Fair and Stampede, but there are several
other smaller events happening throughout the summer. Get out and enjoy our
fabulous communities with your families, friends and visitors - there something
for everyone!
-
Music in Manette, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at Whitey Domstad Park - Family friendly free music. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair.
-
Summer at the Trails, Trails Shopping Center - Mondays 10 a.m.-noon Kid-themed entertainment, Fridays 5-7 p.m. Live music, Saturdays & Sundays noon-2 p.m. www.thetrailsatsilverdale.com/event/Summer-at-the-Trails/2145507695/
-
Bremerton Rock the Dock, 5-8 p.m. Saturdays, Bremerton Boardwalk - Live music on the Boardwalk.
-
Crosby Days– 10 a.m.-5 p.m. August 11, Crosby Community Club, Seabeck - Logging skills competition, food vendors, beer garden, live music and a riding mower race.
-
Farm Funk, 1-10 p.m. August 11, Minder Farm, 1000 Gluds Pond Road, Bremerton - Local produce, hot food, ice cream, beer, wine, cider, live music.
-
Kitsap Wine Festival, 2-5 p.m. August 11, Harborside Fountain Park, Bremerton - The name says it all on this one! www.kitsapwinefestival.com
-
Kitsap County Fair and Stampede, August 22-26, Fairgrounds - Live music, exhibits, PRCA rodeo, carnival rides, animals, destruction derby, entertainment and of course, fried food! https://www.kitsapgov.com/parks/Pages/FairMain.aspx.
-
Kitsap Pacific Islander Fest – 11 a.m.-8 p.m. August 25, Pendergast Park, Bremerton - Island food and music, clothing, jewelry vendors and games.
|
|
