This image says it all.  Mr. Rotary, Bill Maule, celebrated a birthday one tick north of 90 on Friday, Jul 30.  Bill will tell you he didn’t get into Rotary until his cousin convinced him to do so when Bill was in his early 70’s.  He has definitely made up for lost time since.  He has held a variety of leadership positions in the Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club, including its President. In addition, he has attended many recent Rotary International Conventions, notably the ones in Seoul, South Korea, and Atlanta, Georgia.  

    The party for Bill at Kingston’s Village Green Park, was attended by family from the east coast, friends from around here, and Kingston Rotarians, including Bobbie Moore (shown above), who organized a mid-afternoon potluck to help Bill celebrate.  

    Happy 91st Birthday, Mr. Rotary.

    When the call for volunteers went out to help stain the Kingston Scout Hall, it was no surprise Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club President Chris Gilbreath responded in the affirmative.  Chris is usually the first to volunteer around here, hewing true to Rotary’s pledge of “Service above Self.” Not only did he volunteer to stain the Hall; he did so on its highest peaks. 

    The Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club is a charter organization of the local Cub Scout Pack and the local Boy Scout Troop.  Rotarian Doug Hallock is the Club’s charter partner representative.  Under his guidance a major renovation of the Scout Hall is underway.  The project will be completed in time for its inauguration Feb 8, 2022 (the anniversary of Scouts in the USA). 

    The staining event, Aug 1, was but another work party to restore the Scout Hall.  Other work has included all-new electrical, new roof and roof supports, new fireplace, new drywall, and more.  Donations to the Scout Hall restoration project are tax deductible.  Checks may be made payable to the Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Foundation/Scout Hall, and sent to P.O.Box 832, Kingston, WA 98346.  

    Parents interested in Scouts for their kids, boys or girls, should contact Kingston Scoutmaster John Strand (206-293-9528).

    Kitsap County Assessor Phil Cook was the guest speaker, by Zoom, at Kingston North Kitsap Rotary’s Jul 28 meeting.  Cook, who has been Assessor since 2015, had a career in banking and mortgage businesses prior to his election.  The primary role of the Assessor is to establish an assessed valuation of all real and personal property for tax purposes.  He explained to Rotarians there are 41 taxing districts in Kitsap County and that State law directs the Assessor’s office activities.  Their core function is to establish the best values for each tax parcel, and to figure out the best way to administer State law.  Although the physical offices of the Assessor were closed between March 2020 and June 2021, appraisers were still in action in the field conducting physical assessments in-person; each parcel is inspected in person every six years.  Interestingly, Cook said experience shows that a rundown property on the outside usually indicates a rundown property on the inside, and vice-versa.  They do not inspect inside.

    The Assessor commented on why valuations are rising so fast, pointing to low interest rates, limited supply of available properties, construction and permit costs, limited supply of workers, and a highly desirable area (Kitsap).

    Perhaps the most interesting information shared by Cook was his demonstration of the Assessor’s website, where it is possible to find all assessed value history by property, see maps and photo images, and use the interactive feature to drill for just about any information of interest.