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2006 in review


Dec 28 2006

By Patriot Staff

Building a boardwalk

The year started off with a fantastic project no one predicted would gain as much momentum as it did. In January the Bremerton Boardwalk plans were unveiled during The first of many meetings about the project. The 3,000 foot-long, waterfront boardwalk would also provide access to and replace an ailing sewage pipe along the Washington Narrows beach.

The $13 million project got a boost in September when it was announced the proposal had potentially received about $9 million. The momentum began when the Bremerton City Council about $2.5 million from the sale of Eastpark and tennis courts be used for the Boardwalk project. City officials then aggressively pursued grant funding from the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC), netting about $3 million.

The boardwalk scored No. 1 for a $2 million grant from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program that funds construction or renovation of trails. Because of the project’s top spot in the rankings, it is almost guaranteed to get funded.

Still missing

Missing child actor Joe Pichler was last seen Jan. 5 and was reported missing by his Bremerton-based family Jan. 9. His vehicle was found abandoned in an East Bremerton parking lot the same day he was reported missing and his apartment was left open with the television and lights on, the report said.
Searches were conducted near the area and surrounding waters where the vehicle was found but have turned up nothing.

Bremerton Police Detective Sgt. Kevin Crane said police are exploring every possibility. “We are treating this as a serious case. There a wide variety of scenarios we’re exploring,” Crane said. “We have two detectives on the case. We’re following up all possible leads. We processed the vehicle, looked through the apartment, contacted family, friends, and employers ... we have organized searches and maritime patrols (with) the sheriff’s office.”

International media attention came to the case due to Pichler’s acting career, including appearances in two of the “Beethoven” family comedies, teen blockbuster “Varsity Blues,” and also a lead role in the 2002 film “Children on Their Birthdays,” based on a Truman Capote story.

In July about 100 people gathered for a candlelight vigil for the Bremerton High School graduate. Friends shared tales of Pichler’s spontaneity, making spur-of-the-moment trips to California and to Indiana for a Star Trek convention.

Crane said as of December the case was still active and there is nothing suspicious about the case.

The downtown shuffle

Hotel Concepts, the owner of the Hampton Inn and Suites downtown, purchased the old City Hall building on Fourth Street, for about $930,000. The City Hall is currently occupied by the municipal courts and police department. As of February 2007. the Bremerton Police Department will be housed in the former Kitsap Credit Union on Burwell Street.
The Bremerton Municipal Courts are scheduled to move to a temporary location at 900 Pacific Ave. until a permanent location is decided on. Earlier in the year the Bremerton City Council had its sights set on a sight at 10th and Pacific but learned the land was not for sale. Focus shifted to Eighth Street and Park Avenue as the city agreed to purchase in June a 26,000 square-foot parcel from the Bremerton Housing Authority for $325,000. In October, cost estimates for a new building came in at $1.5 million higher than expected leaving just a few months to find, remodel and move the courts to a temporary location.

Library gets facelift

Following a seven-month renovation, the 1938 library housed in the Martin Luther King Jr. Building on Fifth Street reopened its doors in March 13.

One of the first things visitors noticed is a brighter look to the yellow building, both inside and out.

The rotunda skylight in the center of the library was restored
and new art-deco reproduction lighting lighten things up.
Children don’t need to feel cramped into a small corner of the library anymore. An expanded children’s area features stuffed lions set up to be reminiscent of the New York Public Library.
With the library’s reopening, there was a first-time opening of KRL’s Northwest Collection in the northwest corner of the library. The collection of decades of city, county, state and other historical documents have been under lock and key for years at the Sylvan Way branch. The public could access it, but not with nearly as much ease.

Olympic College has milestone year

In what was called a historic day for Olympic College, ground officially broke Feb. 11 on the Bremerton campus for the first new instructional building in 40 years.

While a great deal of groundwork has already started on the new 55,000-square-feet Science-Technology building to be located near the Haselwood Library, dignitaries with golden shovels and hard hats threw dirt to celebrate the occasion. This was the first of two new buildings that are part of a $75 million facelift of the campus. An arts and humanities building is expected to be completed in 2009 and the Bremer Student Center is getting a new facade and bookstore.

In July, Olympic College got the go-ahead to launch its first four-year degree program when the Higher Education Coordinating Board approved OC’s Bachelor of Science Nursing degree.The B.S. in nursing program will enroll its first students in the 2007-08 school year for classes at OC’s Poulsbo campus.

It will be a Bachelor of Science in completion program, which means applicants must already have an associate’s degree in nursing. Though she quickly added there are no other bachelor’s degree programs in the works as of yet. OC will develop a curriculum and the current nursing program’s faculty will receive guidance and mentorship from UW Tacoma professors.

Seafood anyone?

Anthony’s HomePort, opened for business in April next to the Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside filled a fine dining void in downtown. There was much excitement as the restaurant readied for a grand opening of the waterfront restaurant.

Local Northwest food is the name of the game for the restaurant with halibut served with chive oil and spring asparagus at present before the summer season brings fresh strawberries from the Yakima Valley complemented with Northwest wines and microbrews.

Anthony’s was one of the first restaurants to get in on the microbrew craze when it first started in the Northwest. Because it is not a stand alone structure like most Anthony’s locations, the Bremerton restaurant is in a crescent-moon shape to maximize the views of Sinclair Inlet and the passing ferries. Because it was built new as opposed to some locations which were purchased from prior restaurants such as Gig Harbor, Anthony’s was able to put in the exposed kitchen it prefers.

This old hall

City leaders decided that safety comes first at the intersection of 11th and Warren Avenue. Officials revealed plans that will eventually extend the right hand turn lane from southbound Warren to 11th and remove the community hall occupied by the Girl Scouts and Cap Fire USA. Through much negotiating, the two groups will have at least two more years before they have to vacate their post. The groups have used the 1930s-era building for the past 60 years.

Ron Van Hollenbeke, a member of the Bremerton Kiwanis said the club built the hall in 1938 and it has been a source of pride for them.

“I’d hate to see that building torn down,” he said.
According to a parks and recreation commission report issued March 10, “(The property) has minimal usage and provides little direct value to the parks system.”

Join the club

Boys & Girls Clubs of Kitsap County (KCBGC), in the planning stages for four years, opened its doors at Naval Elementary this fall. Community support for the club swelled In mid-April, when the Supporters Kick-Off Dinner at the Admiral Theatre raised more than $300,000 for the organization. The fund-raiser allowed the club to purchase a second portable to accommodate the estimated 200 children the club will serve to add to one already pledged by the school district. The Boys & Girls Club focuses on education, leadership, character, health, wellness, arts, sports and other activities. Each day about 25 children participate in the program.

Parking dilemma

In June, much to the chagrin of business owners, the city contemplated installing meters for pay parking downtown. Pay parking, city officials said invests in downtown and was the right thing to do. Later. organizations such as the Bremerton Area Chamber of Commerce gathered information from members and consumers before it took a stance on this controversial topic.

Early indications showed more of a negative or hesitant attitude toward the idea of metered parking. Some people said it would hurt their business while others said more enforcement is needed on the free parking. According to the Chamber’s survey results released this summer, the majority of people felt paid parking would have a negative effect on downtown.

Bidding farewell to a hero

Chuck Haselwood, a man who some said embodied the American dream, died Oct. 28, 2006 at Harrison Medical Center. He was 83.

Hundreds of family members, friends, and the community gathered to bid farewell to a visionary at a funeral mass at Star of the Sea Catholic Church. Haselwood was born May 11, 1923 to Charles and Cora (Ragsdale) Haselwood of Ellensburg, Haselwood was a self-made businessman who built one of the largest auto dealership groups in the state.

In addition to his business, Haselwood was active in his
community. He was known for his philanthropic actions, which would later earn him a 1994 Thunderbird Award from the Greater Bremerton Chamber of Commerce. A member of the Elks for 55 years, Haselwood was awarded the Hannah Langer Spirit of Philanthropy Award in 2002.

Among the projects supported by Haselwood was the Olympic College Library/Media Center, which opened March of 2000 and bears his name. He also provided the financial support for the Bremerton Ice Arena and the Admiral Theatre.

Weathering the weather

According to National Weather Service meteorologist Johnny Burg, 22.46 inches of precipitation fell at the Bremerton National Airport during the month of November.

“These results are unofficial but it looks like the record for the wettest month in the history of Bremerton has been shattered by the rainfall in the month of November,” Burg said Tuesday afternoon. “It’s the all time wettest month ever for Bremerton.”

Previously, the all time record for precipitation in a month took place in Jaunary of 1953 when 20.08 inches of precipitation fell at the airport.

The weather service began recording rainfall in Bremerton in 1948.

“One system after another kept coming. They came in bunches and the rain kept pouring,” Burg said.

Bremerton resident Cris Larsen is astounded by the large amount of rainfall taking place this past month.

“I grew up in Washington and I have never seen so much rain,” Larsen said. “It’s amazing.”

Britni Beaudry, who’s the assistant manager of Goodies restaurant in downtown Bremerton, was surprised to see the large amount of precipitation in November.

“I really didn’t notice it at first because it was so dry in October,” Beaudry explained. “The rain is out of control. It’s the weirdest weather I have seen in a long time. It’s interesting to see how the weather has changed.”

Rick Foxworth, who’s a manager of Cora’s restaurant on fourth street in Bremerton thinks the rain will approve the area’s water supply.

“I remember when everyone was saying there wasn’t going to be enough water for the reservoirs,” Foxworth said. “I don’t think they have to worry about that now.”


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