“Sherry McKay, owner of Paradise Amusements, who provides the carnival for Viking Fest, has told me that she will be unable to open on Friday until 3 p.m.,” Krell stated.

“We had planned to open the carnival at noon along with the vendor booths on Anderson Parkway. The vendor booths will still open at noon, but the carnival will not begin until 3 p.m.”

Carnival wristbands available for $25

Viking Fest is pre-selling carnival wrist bands at a discounted price of $25.

The wristband is reduced $5 from the regular price, and comes with a tag on the band that is redeemable at the Carnival Ticket Booth for five game tokens.

A limited number of wristbands will be sold, first come, first served, at AmericanWest Bank, 18960 Highway 305; and at the two locations for Little Bean Espresso — the corner of Jensen Way and Front Street, and the other at Highway 3 and Pioneer Way — until Friday at 4 p.m. or until sold out.

The wristbands are good from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 4-9 p.m. — you choose your session of unlimited carnival rides. If you pre-buy a wristband and use it on Saturday for the 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. session, you may purchase an additional session at the ticket booth from 4-9 p.m. for $10 more. That’s a full day of unlimited carnival rides for only $35, if you purchase a pre-sale wristband.

“This is a great opportunity for students to display their artwork on a uniquely mobile medium,” said Doug Bear, County Public Communication Manager.

The contest is open to classrooms at all levels. Applications must be received by June 5. Participants will be selected and notified June 8.

Public Works will provide the paint and brushes, and drop the plow off at the school the week of June 11. The plow blades are 12 feet long and about 3 feet high. Once the plow blades are painted crews from Public Works will pick them up and use them during this winter’s snow and ice response. Here are samples of the artwork displayed on snow plow blades in other jurisdictions.

At their regularly scheduled Thursday night meeting, commissioners Jim Rutledge and Tony DeCarlo said they expect the not-yet-formed advisory council to meet about four times, beginning in July, to give the port direction on future projects, upland development and overall vision. The port is currently accepting applications to the citizen advisory council.

Commissioners also discussed their new parking lot, which is days away from being completed. They expect it will be open and available for Viking Fest weekend, May 18-20, and discussed offering it to a charitable organization to run parking security during the festival. The commissioners have not determined how they will charge for parking after the festival, or how much, leaving it up for discussion at their next port meeting.

For information on the port or how to get involved, call (360) 779-9905 or visit portofpoulsbo.com.

The county invites the public to submit questions and comments on the shoreline plan before the Planning Commission. A hearing scheduled May 1 has been pushed to June 5, at the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners’ chambers, 619 Division St., Port Orchard, at 6 p.m.

A public hearing scheduled for May 7 has been pushed to June 11 at Poulsbo City Hall,  council chambers, 200 NE Moe St., Poulsbo, at 6 p.m.

As a comment on this reporter’s story, Crime-weary neighbors become more vigilant, Erickson said “we always want the citizens of Poulsbo to be safe.” She’ll be walking the mean streets of 4th Avenue to talk to residents at 1 p.m., and said she’ll also be available during her usual Saturday morning Meet the Mayor, from 9 a.m. – noon.

Erickson and County Commissioner Rob Gelder also hosted a community safety program last month, with a disappointingly low turnout.

Among the proposed changes:
- Rezone 4.38 acres from Residential Low to Light Industrial, 20554 Little Valley Road NE.
- Redesignate 0.7 acres on Viking Avenue north of Fish Park, and 2.7 acres at 20563 Bond Road NE from Residential to Park.
- Redesignate 1 acre along 10th Avenue from Commercial to Park.
- Adopt the Urban Paths of Poulsbo Plan.

The city has posted information regarding all proposed amendments at www.cityofpoulsbo.com/planning/comp_plan_2011_2012.htm.

During the four days of the transfer, the KRL catalog will not be accessible. No holds will be able to be placed on items in the catalog during that four-day period. Patrons will not be able to access their library account records to see when the materials they have checked out are due, to renew items they’ve borrowed or to check on fines and fees they may owe.

Staff from KRL and Polaris have already moved data from the existing system into the new one and have been testing the new system to make sure the transition later this month will go smoothly.

KRL has created a web page with some Frequently Asked Questions about the transition to the new ILS.

The April 22-25 transition period is to allow KRL to transfer all current records from the existing ILS to the new system.
KRL Board Elects New Officers

At its regular monthly meeting on March 27, the Kitsap Regional Library Board of Trustees elected John Lyall to be the Board’s next president and Jackie Aitchison to be the next vice president. Both will assume their duties at the April Board meeting.

Lyall, the Board’s Bremerton representative, has served as a trustee since Oct. 1, 2007, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board. He is retired after a career first in human resources (including a stint as the HR Director of Seattle Public Library) and then real estate.

Aitchison, the North Kitsap representative, has served on the Board since Jan. 1, 2004. She formerly served as a Poulsbo City Council member and has been very active in promoting farmer’s markets in Kitsap County and across the state.

The KRL Board of Trustees is appointed by the Kitsap County Commissioners. The Board’s five members represent the five school district regions of the county: Bainbridge, North Kitsap, Central Kitsap, Bremerton and South Kitsap. Board members are appointed to five-year terms and are limited to serving two terms or up to 10 years on the board.

The Board’s other members are: Dan Gottlieb of Bainbridge Island, Gail Mathison of South Kitsap and Teresa McDermott of Central Kitsap.
A Look at KRL’s Collection

Kitsap Regional Library plans to spend about $1,165,000 in 2012 on its collection, about 11 percent of its overall budget.

Part of that money goes to subscribe to special research databases that librarians and the public can use in a variety of ways to get information they need for their work, businesses or education, or to research things like family history or learn a foreign language.

But the bulk of the collections budget is used to buy new items that can be borrowed by library users.

For 2012, the library expects to spend about 62 percent of the collection budget on books and magazines; about 14 percent of the budget on downloadable ebooks, audiobooks and music; and about 12 percent of the collection on physical media (music on CDs; video on DVDs).

The demand for downloadable materials is growing at incredible speed. Ebook downloads at KRL in 2011 totaled 23,204, a 374 percent increase over 2010. If the trend for the first three months of 2012 continues, a similar increase in ebook downloads will be experienced in 2012. In the first two and a half months of the year, total downloads were nearly half of the total for the entire year in 2011.

Kindle ebooks now make up half the downloadable ebooks borrowed from KRL. Books for Kindles only became available for library users in the fourth quarter of 2011.

This is an interesting trend well worth watching over the next 18 months.

The city also plans to formally adopt the Urban Paths of Poulsbo plan into the Comprehensive Plan. For future planning purposes, such as grant applications, the city is adopting the plan with some trails still designated as ‘proposed’ — those trails that cross private property that the city has not yet finalized.

Parks and Recreation Director Mary McCluskey said those paths on private property, shown in pink on the map, are “desired future connection points.”

“We want to connect A to B,” she said. However, the city cannot and has no intention of “taking” private property. Instead, the city has been working with private owners to create easements for the trail.  McCluskey stressed the pink lines can only become trails through the property owner’s willingness.

The public hearing will begin at 7 p.m., in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 200 NE Moe St.

The Comprehensive Plan staff reports can be found here  and information on tonight’s meeting can be found here. The Urban Paths plan can be found here and the proposed map can be found here.

Poulsbo Library is located at 700 NE Lincoln Road. It is open Mondays 1-8 p.m., Tuesday-Wednesdays 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Thursdays 1-5 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and closed Sundays.

Overdue fines will be waived for any item returned to a KRL branch or the bookmobile that day. Outstanding fines for items returned earlier, fees for lost items or fees assessed on items that have been referred to a collection agency will not be waived.

Because KRL sets $5 as the maximum overdue fine, the maximum savings possible to a library patron would be $5 per item returned.

The goal of the amnesty day is to encourage the return of overdue library materials. Generally speaking, KRL would rather have overdue items returned than have to collect a replacement fee and buy a new item.

In addition to helping the entire system celebrate the Bainbridge Library anniversary, it will also help KRL remove overdue fines from patron accounts prior to transferring our user records to the new Integrated Library System software that will go live April 26.

“As we move to a new Integrated Library System the end of April, we want both our user and collection records to be a clean as possible,” said Carol Schuyler, Director of Support Services. “To be able to combine this with a celebration of our Bainbridge Branch is a wonderful opportunity.”

KRL encourages patrons who have overdue items from the library to search your house for missing library books, magazines, DVDs or CDs so you can bring them in on March 17.

“Ultimately, we would like to stream our council meeting live on the web as well as televising them on BKAT,” Erickson said in a statement. “The public should always have the ability to see their government in action.”

The city council meets the first three Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m. at City Hall (200 NE Moe St.), and airs live on public access station BKAT (Bremerton Kitsap Access Television). Erickson said they will “try to get [the video] up within 24 hours” of the meeting.

The videos are accessible from the city website, under Community Resources. Check them out here.

Newly elected Commissioner Jim Rutledge asked for the state Attorney General’s opinion after questions arose on Commissioner Arnold Bockus’ appointment to a vacancy before his elected term ended, leading to animosity on the commission.

Because the commission is small — three seats — when Bockus lost his bid for re-election in November and Commissioner Glenn Gilbert resigned right before the election, Commission Chair Tony DeCarlo wanted to fill Gilbert’s vacancy as soon as possible. After a three-week application period, in which only an applicant from Silverdale applied (outside port boundaries, disqualified), Bockus stepped forward.

What the concern is for Rutledge, and a few members of the public, is how legal it was for Bockus to have been appointed before his term expired, and that he voted for himself.

DeCarlo said that after consulting with the port attorney, he alone could not appoint or vote for a commissioner; that task would go to the County Commission. With two sitting commissioners until Dec. 31, he and Bockus appointed Bockus to Gilbert’s former position.

“Two of us voted, and [Bockus] voted for himself, and that’s where the rub lies, I guess,” DeCarlo said.

The port’s attorney, Greg Norbut, said the opinion leaves the situation “up in the air.”

“It’s not case specific, it doesn’t even note the fact [the port had] only one applicant,” Norbut said. “It takes a hypothetical situation.”

Norbut said he has not discussed further action with the commission, but his impression is any legislative action would be taken up by Rep. Sherry Appleton, who requested the AG opinion on behalf of Rutledge.

DeCarlo, however, is not uncertain: the Attorney General’s informal opinion on the legality of the case does not change the circumstances for him. In the informal opinion, Christopher Lanese, assistant attorney general, cited a common law public policy principle that a sitting commissioner is ineligible for appointment if the appointment is made during the commissioner’s term.

The opinion cited several different court cases, all pointing to a different solution, but DeCarlo specified a Florida case in 2009, which ruled no “prohibition against appointing bodies appointing its own members to positions.”

No Washington case or statute has directly addressed this issue. The opinion stated there have been no developments in Washington law that says a court would follow the public policy principle; because of this, the opinion also states legislation would have to address this subject to clarify these questions.

The Friends meet the first Monday of every month at 9:30 a.m. in the meeting room at the Poulsbo Library (except during July and August). Membership is $5 a year. For more information, go to www.krl.org and click on the “KRL Support” tab on the home page.

Swiney said the Kitsap County Incident Response Team Agreement was spurred by the state Mutual Aid Police Officers Powers Act.

“The change [will be] more of a collaborative, organized effort with the involved agencies to ensure standard operating procedures…post incident,” Swiney said.

Poulsbo Police Department will be providing Det. David Gesell with additional training as a part of this cross-county team. The agreement is between Washington State Patrol, Bainbridge Island, Port Orchard, Bremerton and Poulsbo police departments. All agencies currently have an agreement with the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Department, which while it not in this new agreement, will continue to provide assistance and response when needed.

“As small as we are, I really appreciate the other jurisdictions…[that have been] receptive to the needs [Poulsbo has],” Swiney said.

If citizens locate damage to their vehicles they are encouraged to call 911 to report the crime. Additionally, if anyone has suspect information they should call the Poulsbo Police Department during working hours at (360) 779-3113 or call 911.

Following are some recommendations to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of vehicle malicious mischief and prowls:

• When parking your vehicle or entering a parked vehicle, take the time to look around the area for anything suspicious.

• When parking your car always remove any valuables, keys, roll up the windows and lock the doors.

• If possible park your vehicle in closed or locked garage.

• If your vehicle is parked in a carport or in front of your home, leave the exterior lights on or use motion detector lighting.

• If your vehicle is parked on the street, choose a well-lit open space. Make sure bushes and shrubs are trimmed back so that they do not block the view of your vehicle.

North Kitsap 99% welcomes all people interested in action for progressive social change to their next general meeting on Jan. 23, 7-9 p.m., at the Suquamish United Church of Christ, 18732 Division Avenue NE, Suquamish.  The group was formed this fall in solidarity with the Occupy movement, and its meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays of the month in the same location.

Participants at the meetings take part in a “General Assembly,” participatory democracy in action.  Each person has a voice and is encouraged to join in the discussion and decision-making process.

NK 99% is planning a major event to be held in Kitsap County on March 24 in cooperation with some other Kitsap County progressive organizations. NK 99% working groups — also open to more participation — are helping to plan what this event will look like, where it will be held, and what outcomes they hope to see. More information about the March event will be shared at the G.A. on Jan. 23 and in the coming weeks.

A website is under construction for North Kitsap 99% at http://sites.google.com/site/northkitsap99/. It is also found on Facebook.

Disturbed by the state of current politics and sensing that some sort of audience exists beyond the parameters of her living room, suburbanite housewife Peggy rearranges her living room to assemble a stage set, in the hopes of breaking through to the other side. Her furniture now faces one wall — the “fourth wall” — which she has left bare (which is really the audience).

The Jewel Box Theatre presents A.R. Gurney’s satirical comedy, The Fourth Wall, which will run Fridays and Saturdays, Jan. 27 through Feb. 11 at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. The theater is located at 225 Iverson St. in downtown Poulsbo. The show is directed by Island Theatre cofounder, Steve Stolee, directing for the first time at Jewel Box Theatre.

Gurney’s popular plays, including Love Letters, Sylvia, and The Dining Room, are often compared to the work of novelist John Cheever, their situational satire frequently centering around the foibles of the well-bred upper-middle-class and its supposed sophistication — which usually turns out to be anything but sophisticated. Often, there is a backdrop of war and collective suburban American angst. His plays are urbane, laced with literary and current-event references, but well written to suit a general audience. The Fourth Wall, for all its cultured framing, is full of laugh out loud gags and punch lines.

The cast includes Jim Alexander, as Roger; Shawna Fancher, as Julia; Kathy Currie, as Peggy; and Fred Saas, as Floyd.

Tickets are $16 adults, $14 seniors/students/military, and are available online at brownpapertickets.com (Search: Poulsbo); via e-mail at jewelboxtickets@gmail.com; or by phone at (360) 697-3183. An opening weekend special of $9.99 is available for tickets purchased online only for the Jan. 27-29 performances. Season Presenting Sponsor: Liberty Bay Bank. More information at jewelboxpoulsbo.org.

Up to three sessions of p.m. care without payment of the registration fee or cost of care, new families only. Registration form must be filled out completely for Emergency Consent purposes. Martha & Mary Kids before and after-school programs are open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 3:45 to 6 p.m.; and early release Wednesdays from 2:55 to 6 p.m.

For more information stop by the portable (P9) and meet Ms. Kristin, or call our main office at 394-4089. Registration forms available at the portable, at the Wolfle main office, M&M Kids’ main office or online at www.marthaandmary.org

• Broadband utility
• Comprehensive Plan amendments
• Council Committee selection

The meeting begins at 7 p.m.; the council holds meetings the first, second and third Wednesdays of the month. The council’s agenda can be found on their website, or here.

The commission will also be discussing the parking lot, construction underway in the old armory lot; ‘C’ Dock project update, and the Shoreline Master Program.

The Board of Commissioners holds public meetings every first and third Thursday of the month, in the multipurpose room on ‘E’ Dock.

Jan. 2

- Poulsbo Civil Service Commission, 3-4 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers, 200 NE Moe St., Poulsbo.

Jan. 4

- Poulsbo Capital Improvement Plan Committee, 4-5 p.m., City Hall, 200 NE Moe St.

- Poulsbo Finance Committee, 5-7 p.m., City Hall, 200 NE Moe St. The committee considers matters related to the office of the city clerk, the finance department, city audits, personnel issues, and salaries and wages.

- Poulsbo City Council, 7-10 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers, 200 NE Moe St.

Jan. 5

- Poulsbo Port Commission, 7 p.m., multipurpose room on E Dock, 18809 Front St., Poulsbo.

Jan. 7

- Poulsbo Rotary Club 2:30 p.m., special meeting to discuss a new youth shelter, City Council chambers, 200 NE Moe St.

Jan. 9

- Community Pool Advisory Committee, 6:30 p.m., North Kitsap Community Pool classroom, 1881 NE Hostmark Ave., in Poulsbo.

- Kitsap County Board of Commissioners, 7 p.m., Commissiowners Chambers, 614 Division St., Port Orchard.

- Poulsbo Tree Board, 7-9 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers, 200 NE Moe St., Poulsbo.

Inside the North Kitsap 99% are working groups that take on specific events and issues. On Jan. 5 at 7 p.m., the North Kitsap 99% Major Events working group will meet to plan a big community event in February, probably on President’s Day weekend, to widen participation in the movement. The North Kitsap 99% has about 40 people involved so far, but local individuals and organizations that have an affinity with the Occupy movement are urged to attend and take part.

Some initial ideas for the February event are to have speakers (lively ones) to talk about their experiences with the Occupy movement and to break out into interest group or open space activities. Attendees will have opportunities to participate in a General Assembly (grassroots democracy in action). Food, music and kid-friendly activities may also be part of the day. YES! Magazine‘s Sarah van Gelder is part of the working group and has offered to speak or lead a teach-in based upon her research and editing of the newly published book “This Changes Everything: Occupy Wall Street and the 99% Movement.”

Come on Jan. 5 and share ideas to help make this event spectacular. For more information about this meeting, contact Alice McCain at (360) 697-7878.

The producers of Norway’s version of “Dancing With The Stars” and “American Idol” are returning to the U.S. for a third time to find fun, outgoing Americans with Norwegian ancestry to participate in season three of their enormously successful reality television series “Alt for Norge.”

Alt for Norway reality TV show

O’Connor Casting Company is conducting a nationwide search for adventurous Americans with Norwegian ancestry (even a little bit counts) who are interested in auditioning. The series follows 12 Norwegian-Americans who fly to Norway and immerse themselves in the culture and compete in a series of extreme challenges that test their skills, courage and determination. The winner receives a cash prize of $50,000 and will meet Norwegian relatives they don’t even know exist.

Just go to http://oconnorcasting.tv/castingboard to download the application and submission information. They can also email questions to castingnorway@gmail.com

To view clip from Season Two go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mEEzsTnf50

“We’re looking for people who have a deep curiosity or passion for their Norwegian heritage, and want to have a life changing adventure,” said David O’Connor, director of casting at Chicago’s O’Connor Casting Company.

Season two winner Matt Rowe said there’s nothing like this experience in the world. “Sure the landscape was beautiful and the challenges were really exciting, but it’s the people who make Norway special.” He added, “And that’s something every cast member experienced because we were there for two weeks before anyone was eliminated.”

Friday, beginning at 7:15 p.m. at the club docks, the ships will proceed to the port marina, along the south/wes side of Liberty Bay, to Keyport, returning via Lemolo Shores on the north/east side, ending at Liberty Bay marina around 9 p.m.

Saturday, the ships will meet off Manzanita at 6 p.m., cruising up the west side of Bainbridge through Agate Pass to Port Madison, into the bay at approximately 7:15 p.m. From Port Madison, the ships will return to the Suquamish dock and down the west side of Agate Pass, around Point Bolin at approximately 9:15.

Watch along the waterfront with some hot chocolate and a good camera!

]]> http://blogs.northkitsapherald.com/poulsbobeat/lighted-boat-parade-this-weekend-liberty-bay-and-agate-pass/433/feed/ 0 http://blogs.northkitsapherald.com/poulsbobeat/god-jul/429/ http://blogs.northkitsapherald.com/poulsbobeat/god-jul/429/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2011 01:07:05 +0000 Megan Stephenson http://blogs.northkitsapherald.com/poulsbobeat/?p=429 Waterfront Park was nearly bursting with families, pets and folks checking out Jule Fest last Saturday, where they were entertained by North Kitsap and Kingston high school bands, Vestre Sund Mannskor singing group, and general merriment.

Jule Fest photo slideshow

The North Kitsap High School Northern Lights choir, led by Sylvia Cauter (not pictured), entertains the crowd outside the Martinson Cabin on Nov. 25 with traditional Christmas carols. Viking Avenue merchants put together the holiday kickoff event, which included a donated 38-foot Christmas tree, a lighting ceremony, hot chocolate and hay rides.

Families load onto a tractor for a hay ride during the Viking Avenue holiday event. The hay rides were donated by Washington Tractor.

Elda and Herb Armstrong visit with Miss Poulsbo Natasha Tucker at the Viking Avenue Tree Lighting Ceremony, Nov. 25. The Armstrongs donated the 25-year-old tree from their tree farm. (Michele Wasson / Contributed)

All photos by Richard Walker / Herald.

The festivities kick off with a Scandinavian Bazaar at the Sons of Norway on Front Street, Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Jule Fest along the waterfront follows the bazaar from 4-6 p.m. where Vikings escort the Lucia Bride to light the bonfire.

Also on Saturday (and every Saturday until Christmas Day) will be free horse-drawn carriage rides around downtown Poulsbo and the waterfront, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., and Nordic Father Christmas from noon – 4 p.m. (12/3, 10, 17, 24)

The December Artwalk on 12/10 will have festive refreshments and holiday crafts, from 5-8 p.m.

Finally, shops will be open later on Friday and Saturday nights from now until Dec. 23 for shopping, staying open until 7 or 8 p.m.

Check out HistoricDowntownPoulsbo.com or on Facebook for more information.

Member Marilyn Bode said those interested can meet at the corners of Lindvog and Highway 104, by the old Kingston Lumber, on Thursday at 4:20 p.m., and to bring “big,” homemade signs.

The meeting on Wednesday will be held at the Suquamish United Church of Christ Church at Geneva and Division streets.

“We will discuss what the Occupy movement means to our community and how we can come together to affect local change,” Bode said in a statement. “Bring your ideas and help plan a community event in January.”

A community dinner will be held right before the meeting, at 5 p.m.

Occupy North Kitsap protests outside Bank of America in Kingston on Nov. 5. Courtesy photo / Marilyn Bode.

The group previously organized a protest outside of Bank of America in Kingston on Nov. 5, known throughout the nation as Bank Transfer Day. Those with corporate bank accounts (Bank of America, Chase, etc.) were encouraged to move their money into local banks and credit unions.

The Poulsbo City Council heard testimony at the Nov. 2 meeting, regarding the city’s temporary moratorium on medicinal marijuana collective gardens. In September, the council voted for a six month moratorium to disallow collective gardens in city limits. A collective garden is defined as having no more than 45 plants or 72 ounces of “usable cannabis” per garden, according to state law.

Troy Barber, a member of Sensible Washington, a marijuana legalization movement, said he has seen the positive affects of cannabis as an herbal medicine for his cancer-stricken mother. He said he finds it an unfair stigma that “overdoses of prescription drugs is an epidemic,” calling opposition to all marijuana “prohibitionists’ propaganda.”

Medical marijuana is legal under Washington state law, along with 15 other states nationwide, but all marijuana is illegal under federal law.

Tom Foley of Poulsbo, however, said legalized cannabis in Poulsbo was “scary stuff.” He said the dispute between state and federal law should be “vetted in the courts” before it comes to Poulsbo.

“We have art shows, street dances, bingo at the Sons of Norway Lodge — these are the kinds of things we want to be known for,” Foley testified.

Kent Lord also told council members he finds the negative affects of marijuana outweigh any positive, citing the problems California had with enforcing legal dispensaries and the crime that comes with marijuana.

Collective gardens, unlike dispensaries, are currently allowed under state law. However, regulation of medical marijuana by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health do not take effect until January 2013, according to Section 901 of Senate Bill 5073. The law also states that patients are allowed to grow up to 15 plants privately and non-commercially.

The planning department recommended the moratorium while the department concludes a broad zoning update. Associate Planner Alyse Nelson said under current zoning laws, the city doesn’t have a way to regulate a collective marijuana garden that is allowed under state law.

“What we’re trying to do is figure out the pieces of the law as it comes out of the Legislature,” Mayor Becky Erickson said in a previous interview. “It’s not a clear direction what [the state] is intending local jurisdiction can do.”

The zoning updates will be presented before the council by the end of 2011, after which the council will make a final decision on whether to allow collective gardens

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in City Council chambers.

See the Port of Poulsbo’s reaction here.

Some of the recommendations by the Mayor, concurred by the Finance Committee, and approved (for now) by the City Council:

- Street reserves, pavement restoration — $143,955 to stay in the general fund instead of transferring

- Park reserves — $4,452 to stay in general fund

- Fund 191 (criminal justice) — $20,000 to stay in general fund

- Parks and Recreation — $20,000 in increased revenues (increasing fees) and reduced expenditures

- Salaries — $12,000 for exempt (non-union managerial) personnel

- KEDA (Kitsap Economic Development Alliance) — $5,000 cut

- Kitsap Humane Society — $5,000 (duplication of service)

- Library operations – $5,000

Mayor recommendation’s not concurred by Finance Committee nor Council:

- Urban Forestry — recommended $18,490 cut; discussions with Tree Board at their meeting Monday

- BKAT — recommended $5,000 cut; would result in two of three meetings broadcast. Council and mayor took particular issue to negotiations with BKAT regarding current service, which does not broadcast every recorded meeting. Council recommended looking into alternative broadcast methods, including internet streaming.

- Historical Downtown Poulsbo Association basket watering — recommended $5,000 cut, council approved $1,250 cut.

- Sound Works — recommended $5,000 cut; discussions with Sound Works

The finance department is expecting $20.4 million in total revenue next year, but has calculated $22.8 million in expenses. The $2 million deficit comes from the general fund, special revenue, debt service, capital project and utility funds expected revenue versus expenses, as well as a beginning balance each fund will carry over to next year. The council is attempting to balance the general fund, the largest piece of the city’s budget at $10.4 million.

Wednesday was also the first of two public hearings, where residents could ask questions or give their comments on the budget. Of the eight or so members of the public, no one spoke. Residents will have one more opportunity to speak at next week’s city council meeting, at 7:15 p.m.

The preliminary budget is available here.

Friday’s cruise will sail around Liberty Bay, starting at the Poulsbo docks at 7:15 p.m. and proceeding along the southwest side to Keyport and returning via Lemolo Shores, ending around 9 p.m.

Saturday will begin off Manzanita at 6 p.m., cruising up the west side of Bainbridge Island through Agate Pass to Port Madison, and into the bay around 7:15 p.m. The boats will then return via the Suquamish dock, down the west side of Agate Pass around Point Bolin about 9:15 p.m.

Look out for Santa to shout out your wishes along the route.

On a cold, clear, moonless night in the middle of winter, all is not quite what it seems in the remote, mythical town of Almost, Maine. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, Almost’s residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and amusing ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend—almost—in this delightful midwinter night’s dream.

Almost, Maine is a play composed of nine short plays, or vignettes, that explore love and loss. It premiered at the Portland Stage Company in Portland, Maine, where it broke box office records and garnered critical acclaim. It has gone on to become a popular choice with professional and nonprofessional theatre companies worldwide. Almost, Maine was featured in Smith and Kraus’ New Playwrights: Best Plays of 2006.

The ensemble cast includes Jon Nangle, Rosalva Rinks, David Bryant, and Michelle Peterson.

Tickets for this heart-warming winter show are $16 adults, $14 seniors/students/military, and are available online at brownpapertickets.com (Search: Poulsbo), via e-mail at jewelboxtickets@gmail.com, or by phone at (360) 697-3183. More information at jewelboxpoulsbo.org.

A special preview (dress rehearsal) performance of Almost, Maine is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17. Admission to previews is a minimum of $7, more if you choose. Preview tickets are available at the door only, no advance reservations. Season Presenting Sponsor: Liberty Bay Bank. Supporting Sponsor: Kitsap Physical Therapy.

The theater is located at 225 Iverson St. in downtown Poulsbo.

Council members will discuss how to eliminate a $474,000 shortfall in the budget before the public is welcome and encouraged to give their opinions at the 7:15 p.m. public hearing. View the preliminary budget at http://www.cityofpoulsbo.com/finance/documents/2012_Preliminary_Budget.pdf

Check out the rest of the agenda here, which includes award of the Liberty Bay Trial Project contract and an update on Fjord Drive project.

A local business has teamed with Operation Airlift Japan to provide supplies to school children orphaned by a March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Bayside Engravers is an official drop-off location for the effort, which is collecting items for 63 kids whose homes and families were lost last month. A US military family in Japan is caring for the kids, according to an email from Bayside Engravers.

So far, the community has dropped off a host of supplies.

“Needless to say, it has been so heart warming seeing the flow of love walking into our store, dropping off water, canned goods, toys, and hand-made quilts.  It just showed me that we may be a small little town, but our heart is gigantic,” said Joey Graham of Bayside Engravers in an email to the Herald.

Learn more about the effort at www.mynorthwest.com.

Drop off a donation at 19735 10th Ave. NE, Ste. N102 or call (360) 697-3738 for more information.  JM

Mayor Becky Erickson thinks so; she’s working to establish a community event for every month of the year in 2012. Those could include a winter fest in January and a St. Patrick’s Day parade in March.

The events would join those already marked as holidays in North Kitsap, which include May’s Viking Fest, Third of July, August’s Street Dance and December’s Julefest and host of other holiday celebrations.

What would you like to see established as new tradition in Little Norway? A springtime scavenger hunt? A Thanksgiving 5k? Leave your ideas below.  JM

Word came today from the folks at Wheel of Fortune that a Poulsbo man will appear on an episode of the game show scheduled to air at 7 p.m. this Thursday, March 17 on KOMO.

According to Leslie Jacobe, of Wheel of Fortune Publicity and Promotions, 20-year Wheel viewer Jeffrey Anema was a contestant on the word puzzle show, which dates back to 1975. No further details on his appearance were given, except that he hopes to use his winnings to take his wife and five kids on a trip. Anema works as a general contractor, and because he appeared on the show during Pet Lovers week, he celebrated his cat Tazzie.  JM

If the unnamed prospective buyer decides to purchase the .7-acre parcel at 19050 Jensen Way, the city may not need to spend the $117,000 it would cost to demolish the old city hall building, remove the foundation and fill in and reseed the land. Poulsbo Councilman Ed Stern encouraged the city to wait until at least March 16 to give the interested buyer time to decide.

If the city does move forward with the demolition, the added cost could make price negotiations less feasible in the future, Stern said. Whether the foundation needs to be filled — a roughly $10,000 cost — also depends on whether the site’s next use involves an underground parking garage.

“Potentially, some of the uses proposed may not require us to in fact demolish,” Stern said at a meeting Wednesday night.

The parcel is listed for sale at $1.25 million.

Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson said interest shown by the potential buyer has so far been speculative.

“There is an inquiry, but it has been nothing more than that,” she said.

The city opened the bidding process for the demolition project March 3. Four contractors responded, the lowest bidder being Sound Excavation. Sound Excavation recently demolished the former North Kitsap Armory, which sits adjacent to the old city hall. Its equipment is still onsite, making it easy for the company to begin demolition quickly, said Poulsbo Public Works Director Barry Loveless.

Areas designated as parking for the old city hall will remain that way indefinitely for community use, Loveless said.

The demolition project is expected to take 60 days to complete. The city hopes to have it finished by May 20, when Viking Fest will occur.

The council voted unanimously Wednesday night to proceed with the demolition by March 23 if the buyer does not move forward by then.  JM

The breakfast was held at the armory for more than four decades, Lions Club members told the City Council this week. Last year the breakfast raised $6,000 in scholarships for local high school graduates.

The Lions Club reviewed several other locations, including area churches, the Sons of Norway lodge and an outdoor tent. The upper parking garage at city hall, normally reserved just for staff, was approved by the fire marshal and health inspector, members said.

The club must still obtain a permit for the event. If given final approval, the city will charge the club utility and custodial fees.

The breakfast will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22.  JM

The two-vehicle collision occurred on State Route 308 near the interchange with State Route 3 at about 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 27. The driver of a Ford F150 truck traveling eastbound crossed the center line and struck a Toyota 4 Runner traveling westbound. The collision sent both drivers to the hospital, one with serious injuries, according to State Patrol.

Based on information gathered from other witnesses, detectives believe there could have been an additional vehicle involved. The vehicle in question is described as “a blue BMW sedan-type, unknown year.” The vehicle was seen exiting the Bangor gate prior to the collision and traveling eastbound to Keyport.

Anyone who can identify the driver of this vehicle is asked to contact Detective Joi Haner at (360) 405-6647.  JM

I just received an update from member Leonard Eiger regarding the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action’s nuclear weapons protest at Target in Silverdale and later the gates of Bangor last weekend, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Eighty-three people joined the protest, and 12 were arrested after blocking traffic to the base. Here’s some of what Leonard reported:

After nonviolence training 12 activists risked arrest by symbolically closing the Trigger Avenue gate during the afternoon shift change as an act of resistance to Trident, a first strike weapons system. Blocking traffic symbolizes stopping the horrific threat of Trident missiles, for a short time. Rosy Betz-Zall, 60, of Seattle, WA; Anne Hall, 65, of Seattle, WA; Larry Kerschner, 64, of Centralia, WA; Brenda McMillan, 77, of Port Townsend, WA; Denny Moore, 66, of Bainbridge Island, WA; and Shirley Morrison, 88, of Seattle, WA walked onto Trigger Avenue with a banner reading “BILLIONS FOR LIFE, NOT BILLIONS FOR DEATH.” Kitsap County Sheriffs arrested the six protesters.  After initial processing they were transported by Sheriff’s van to the Kitsap County Jail for further processing.  They were issued citations for blocking traffic and released.

Then another six Ground Zero Center activists crossed the ‘blue line’ designating federal control. Patricia “Patti” Bass, 63, of Poulsbo, WA; Carolyn Dorisdotter, 72, Seattle, WA; Norm Keegel, 71, of Bainbridge Island, WA; Gordon Sturrock, 52, of Eugene, WA; Sam Tower, 68, of Tacoma, WA; and Robert Friend Weber Whitlock, 32, of Olympia were arrested by naval security personnel,  processed and released after being issued citations for trespassing. JM

On. Nov. 2 White was issued a cease and desist letter regarding the use of titles that included the phrase “Miss. U.S.A.” as part of a self-esteem program she began 13 years ago. Many of White’s titleholders are kids.

Shugart said attorneys hadn’t fully looked into the issue and would back off in a phone conversation with White on Dec. 2, White said. White will not repossess any of the titles in question from their current holders, but will adjust them next year as a gesture of goodwill, she said.

“Next year when I have the competition, our national winner will be Miss U.S. Rose, and I have new friends in the pageant world,” White wrote in an email to the Herald.

Shugart also invited White to the 2011 Miss USA pageant. White owns American Rose Bridal in Poulsbo.  JM

The series is Norway’s top reality program, and is made by the producers of Norway’s versions of Dancing with the Stars and American Idol, according to the announcement. Participants must be between 18 and 60 years old.

Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson said all four applicants are “quality” and have what it takes to do the job.

The council will interview the applicants at city hall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, and will announce their decision by the end of the session. The public is welcome to watch.

The selected applicant will fill the seat left open by longtime councilman Dale Rudolph, who leaves mid-term at the end of this year.

This will mark the second of the council’s members to be selected by peers instead of elected. Councilman Jeff Bauman was chosen in a similar interview process last year to fill Erickson’s position when she took over as mayor.

“My hat goes off to them for stepping up and doing this at this time,” Erickson said of the applicants. “Government’s got some really tough decisions. This is not an easy time to be on a city council.”  JM