Something doing at the Port. That is what Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club members learned at their Nov 10 noon meeting. The speakers were Mary McClure, Port of Kingston Commissioner, and Keith Gurnee of the Gplanz group out of California. With a long career in planning and architecture of seaside communities, Gurnee has been engaged by the Port of Kingston to help with Port development and economic development for Kingston.
McClure shared the Port’s purpose is economic development and economic vitality of the community. That properties owned by the Port are stepping stones to economic development. The discovery process of what to do began with 45 community interviews to determine community uses, such as water related, events, and park enjoyment, and business community uses, such as restaurants and lodging. Out of those interviews, the big takeaway was “do something!”
Gurnee’s firm has developed two alternatives for consideration. Both include some mix of lodging, restaurant, sports bar, and retail use, with an emphasis on community uses and visitor uses. The site of such development would be the current tent pad at the Port and an area adjacent that backs up to the retaining wall on Washington Street.
Next steps include a market feasibility analysis, community outreach and reaction, and finalizing what it will look like. Rotarians were advised to look on the Port’s website in the near future for information as plans proceed.
We begin every meeting of the noon Club with a flag salute. Yes, an old-fashioned pledge of allegiance. It is the alpha of the agenda. The omega, Rotary’s four-way test, is pledged 60 minutes later. In between, committee reports are rendered, members donate “happy bucks” on occasion of their “happiness,” reminders of upcoming meetings and events are given, and a speaker updates members on what’s happening in their area of business or community expertise.
Sep 29, a woman who leads a NGO in Afghanistan told of her group’s work there on behalf of women and children, and of how she departed the country just ahead of the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul. Oct 6, Commissioner Debra Lester, Telecom Director Angela Bennink, and Water/Wastewater Director Dave Epperson of Kitsap PUD, told members about the ongoing PUD business of delivering water and broadband to Kitsap communities. Rotary members heard recently from the superintendent of North Kitsap Schools, the development director of Coffee Oasis, the Rotary District Governor, Kitsap County’s Interim - now permanent - Sheriff, and the director of a group working to improve water and sanitation conditions in rural Bolivia. On the agenda coming up, speakers include Latitude 48, with tips on leveraging Linkedin, and the hidden costs of aging, the President of Rayonier/Pope Resources on Port Gamble Development plans, and the Port of Kingston Executive Director with updates on happenings down at the Port.
You get the idea. Each meeting is packed with information about what is going on in our community. Packed with information about what is going on with the various committees of the Club - Membership, Ale Trail, Order Bombing, Community Services, International Services, Youth Services, Communication, and the like. Packed with fellowship and conversation. And since meeting in person has become possible again, wrapped in a delicious buffet, often with a Mexican touch, from our local caterer, Anita Moore’s Mi Sueno.
All meetings end in Rotary’s important four-way test, used by Rotarians around the world as a moral code for personal and business relationships: Of the things we think, say and do 1) is it the TRUTH, 2) is it FAIR to all concerned, 3) will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS 4) will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned. Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians add a fifth to the four-way test: AND WILL IT BE FUN?
Your Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club welcomes visitors. You may visit the noon Club, which meets Wednesdays at Village Green Community Center, or the Satellite Club, which meets once monthly evenings at various locations in the community. Rotary is really about contributing. And being informed, “what’s going on around here.” If you are interested in visiting one of our meetings, kindly contact Julie Fox: julesafox@gmail.com.
A perfect TEN. The volunteers, nine Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians, and a guest, who beat back blackberry, laid gravel, and whacked where whacking was needed, on Village Green Trails in Kingston. The Rotarians were Ross Patton, Stan and Jane Mack, Stan Amas, Walt Elliott, Bobbie Moore, Keith Beebe, Brian Stenejhem, Chris Gilbreath, and Mark Libby. The guest was Mary Gleysteen. Here Ross, Stan A, and Mary in action.
That party was Saturday, Oct 23. Another broke out the following Monday, Oct 25, at Western Red Brewing in Poulsbo. The combined Kitsap County Rotary Clubs Pints for Polio event, to fun and fund-raise for Rotary's Pints for Polio project. A dollar from each pint and a percent of food sales will be donated to the cause. Here Rotary District 5020 Governor Lorna Curtis, in mask, is surrounded by well-wishers and party-goers.
At their Oct 27 noon meeting, Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians received a presentation from Jon Rose, President of Olympic Property Group. In a wide-ranging discussion Rose told the history of Port Gamble as a mill town, beginning in 1853. When the mill was shuttered in 1995, then-owner Pope & Talbot, later Pope Resources, began looking at the future of its massive land and property holdings in North Kitsap. Its goal was to get as much of its property into public conservatorship as possible. While retaining 2783 acres and tree harvest rights, Pope enabled 4500 of its acres to become owned by Kitsap County, leading to a network of land and water trails and open space to the public benefit. Rose told Rotarians Port Gamble's industrial days are behind it. The future lies in recreation, tourism, and agri-tourism. The current state of Port Gamble is not sustainable, as the company loses $250-$350k per year there. 225 new homes will be built in Port Gamble consistent with the historic New England look of its present- day homes. Olympic Property Group recently sold its 360 acres in the Arborwood development adjacent to White Horse, to two nationally-known home building companies. Commenting on growth in Kitsap County, Rose said some growth is good for the county, however, "it will be like we have never seen before. It is not going to happen like we have seen in the past." As a result of the State Growth Management Act in 1990, growth is more controlled, with more folks living in smaller areas.
Rotary’s relationship with the Global Partnership for Education is already having an impact, as incoming district governors learned at the International Assembly in January.
The 30-minute program, “Delivering on our Promise of a Polio-Free World,” provided encouraging information about the progress and remaining challenges in the fight to end polio.
The Power of Nutrition partners with Rotary, other organizations for new malnutrition program in EthiopiaLondon, 1 November 2021: The Power of Nutrition
Port Gamble's industrial days are behind it. The future lies in recreation, tourism, and agri-tourism. The current state of Port Gamble is not sustainable, as the company loses $250-$350k per year there. 225 new homes will be built in Port Gamble consistent with the historic New England look of its present- day homes. Olympic Property Group recently sold its 360 acres in the Arborwood development adjacent to White Horse, to two nationally-known home building companies. Commenting on growth in Kitsap County, Rose said some growth is good for the county, however, "it will be like we have never seen before. It is not going to happen like we have seen in the past." As a result of the State Growth Management Act in 1990, growth is more controlled, with more folks living in smaller areas. 
